Europe begins to take action against Israel over the ‘unacceptable’ situation in Gaza

The daily images of the humanitarian catastrophe that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is causing in Gaza with its military offensive and the blockade of international aid are shaking even the European countries most aligned with Israel.

The increasingly critical tone from several EU capitals in the face of a situation almost unanimously described as “unacceptable” culminated on Tuesday in Brussels with a shift that, until just weeks ago, would have been unthinkable in Europe — traditionally very reluctant to take retaliatory action against Israel.

At the request of an “overwhelming majority” of member states — 17 out of 27 — the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has decided to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the main instrument of political and trade relations between the two since it came into force in 2000.

“Pressure is necessary to change the situation,” explained Kallas after a meeting of foreign ministers in which the dire situation of the population in Gaza — militarily besieged and with barely any access to humanitarian aid blocked by Israel for more than two months — was a central focus of discussion, along with Ukraine.

The tragedy in the Palestinian enclave has also led the United Kingdom to take decisive action: the Labour government of Keir Starmer has decided to suspend ongoing negotiations on a future trade agreement with Israel. Starmer himself has said he is “horrified” by the military escalation in the Gaza Strip. Downing Street has also summoned the Israeli ambassador in London to express its protest over the “intolerable” offensive in Gaza, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

In Spain, a majority in the Congress of Deputies agreed to support an arms embargo on Israel, despite opposition from both the conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox.

“It is clear from today’s discussion that there is a strong majority in favor of [the] review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel. So, we will launch this exercise,” Kallas said, referring to the key article that stipulates that relations between the EU and Israel “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.”

This step does not immediately entail a suspension of political dialogue or trade with Israel, although it opens the door for later decisions — by unanimity or qualified majority, depending on the proposal — on more drastic measures. Still, this initial move, which Spain and Ireland had called for over a year ago without any response from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, represents a significant shift in the EU’s previously timid reaction to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Before leaving office, Kallas’ predecessor, Spain’s Josep Borrell, had already carried out a similar review late last year and proposed suspending political dialogue with Israel over the Netanyahu government’s human rights record. That proposal failed due to opposition from some countries, including Germany.

What’s different now is that the initiative comes directly from the member states themselves: the main driver has been the Netherlands — until recently one of the most reluctant to question Netanyahu’s government. Among the 17 countries that have endorsed the review is Austria, another of the staunchest opponents of any criticism of Israel up until now. Poland has also backed the initiative, alongside Spain and France.

According to sources, two major EU members — Italy and Germany — opposed it. Reflecting the hardening tone, Sweden even proposed individual sanctions against certain Israeli ministers, though the proposal was ultimately blocked by Hungary’s veto, according to several diplomatic sources.

In parallel, Spain — alongside Ireland, Slovenia, and Luxembourg — sent another letter to Kallas on the eve of the Brussels meeting, once again requesting a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

“It is time to give real meaning to Article 2 of the Association Agreement,” the letter stated, calling for “concrete and meaningful measures” if it is determined that the human rights clause of the agreement has been violated.

The idea is to send “a clear message [that] we won’t stand for the status quo,” said Ireland’s Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond. “We want to see humanitarian aid reaching Gaza and Israel showing restraint in its actions,” he urged.

“The EU must do everything possible to bring an immediate end” to the Israeli offensive and must use “every instrument at its disposal to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to end this war and allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid,” added Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. “The time for words is over, the time for declarations and demands has passed,” he continued. “We cannot tolerate what is happening for one more minute.”

For Portugal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Paulo Rangel, the turning point for many of the countries that had previously been reluctant was Israel’s decision not to extend the ceasefire and, subsequently, to launch a military occupation in Gaza while continuing to deny humanitarian aid access to the civilian population for 60 days.

“The situation is different. We know that historically, states have had different views on their relationship with Israel […] but the [current] situation is very worrying, and they are not indifferent to this," he said. “Although some want to seek more consensual solutions, they have convinced themselves that the situation is unsustainable.”

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp posted on X. “There is an urgent need for massive aid to relieve the suffering. It is good that the EU sent a strong signal to Israel today to lift the humanitarian blockade fully and as soon as possible.”

Concerns over the new military offensive and the humanitarian crisis had already led France, the United Kingdom, and Canada to issue a joint statement the day before, warning Israel of “concrete measures” if it did not halt a “totally disproportionate” escalation.

Netanyahu’s government, said Lammy, is “isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world.” This is the strongest protest expressed by the U.K. since the military offensive against Palestinian territory began.

“We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict: Netanyahu’s government plan to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need,” denounced Lammy. “Yesterday [Monday], Minister Smotrich even spoke of Israeli forces ‘cleansing’ Gaza, of ‘destroying what’s left’ and of resident Palestinians being ‘relocated to third countries.’ We must call this what it is: it is extremism, it is dangerous, it is repellent, it is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of around 20 donor countries — EU members such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia — issued a joint statement urging Israel to “allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the U.N. and humanitarian organizations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering, and maintain dignity.”

The statement, issued as part of the European Humanitarian Forum that concluded Tuesday in Brussels — and also signed by Kallas and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib — argues that “an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region”

Another discreet yet significant gesture signaling Europe’s shift was the decision by European Council President António Costa of Portugal to receive the new Palestinian ambassador, Amal Jadou Shakaa, on Tuesday with the same ceremony and honors as the rest of the 10 new non-EU diplomatic representatives — despite the fact that not all EU countries officially recognize the State of Palestine. According to European sources, it is the first time that a Palestinian representative has presented their “mission letter” at the highest institutional level in the EU.

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