In recent months, the Gaza Strip has once again witnessed a renewed wave of violence, spearheaded by Israel with the open support of the United States under Donald Trump’s leadership. These hostilities—initiated by the unilateral breach of the previous ceasefire by Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government—have not only resulted in the mass killing of civilians, indiscriminate bombings, and a total humanitarian blockade, but have also increased the risk of escalation on both regional and global levels. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU), which presents itself as a defender of the liberal international order and human rights, has adopted a largely passive and silent approach. This insistence on inaction is not only a moral failure and source of shame for the Union, but from the perspective of Europe’s own long-term strategic interests, it appears entirely indefensible.
Since early 2025, Israel has resumed its large-scale bombardment of Gaza and imposed a blockade that has cut off access to food, water, medicine, and fuel—once again drawing international attention. These actions followed the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by Joe Biden the previous year. Netanyahu’s decision to breach this agreement—ostensibly due to Hamas’s refusal to release hostages—was backed explicitly by Trump. However, evidence indicates that it was Israel that unilaterally disrupted the ceasefire by altering the terms of the deal and refusing to implement the second phase, which required a full halt to military operations. Threatening statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—vowing to completely destroy Gaza if Hamas did not surrender—along with deliberate bombings at sensitive times, such as during the early mornings of Ramadan, further expose the criminal dimensions of these policies.
These actions not only constitute clear violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, but also stand in stark contrast to the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). In January 2024, the ICJ confirmed the plausibility of genocide in Gaza, while the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. Nevertheless, Israel has disregarded these rulings and continued to escalate its operations, including cutting power to desalination facilities and obstructing humanitarian aid—furthering what many observers consider a policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Despite consistently emphasizing its commitment to human rights and international law, the EU has adopted a dual and passive stance in response to these atrocities. Statements from the European Council, including the most recent declaration from March 2025, have merely expressed regret over the collapse of the ceasefire and civilian casualties—carefully avoiding naming Israel as the primary perpetrator of these crimes. These statements, which criticize Hamas for refusing to release hostages, make no mention of Israel’s role in unilaterally breaching the ceasefire or of the bombings that have killed hundreds of civilians. Amnesty International has condemned this approach as a shameful attempt to justify genocide and war crimes, calling it an example of the EU’s selective empathy toward Palestinian victims.
This silence persists despite the EU holding considerable leverage over Israel. As Israel’s largest trading and investment partner, supplier of one-third of its weapons, and signatory to the most extensive cooperation agreement with a non-member state, the EU possesses powerful economic and political tools. Yet the EU’s clear reluctance to use these tools raises serious questions about its political will. For instance, despite ICJ recommendations to cease trade with illegal Israeli settlements, EU member states continue such activities. Furthermore, countries like France and Italy have even allowed Netanyahu to use their airspace, despite his ICC arrest warrant.
Europe’s silence in the face of the Gaza crisis is, morally speaking, a disaster. The EU’s claim to uphold the liberal international order and human rights has been severely undermined by this inaction. This double standard—vividly apparent in the EU’s firm support for Ukraine against Russia’s violations of international law, but glaringly absent in the case of Gaza—has damaged Europe’s global credibility. Organizations like Amnesty International stress that this silence not only constitutes a breach of Europe’s obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute, but also implicitly facilitates war crimes.
Strategically, this inaction also harms Europe’s long-term interests. The Middle East’s geographical proximity to Europe means that escalating conflicts may lead to consequences such as a new wave of refugees, disruptions in energy supply chains, and heightened social tensions within Europe’s multicultural societies. Moreover, the expansion of Israeli military operations into Syria, coupled with American moves in Yemen, raises the specter of a regional war that threatens global—and by extension, European—stability. In such a scenario, Europe’s passivity does nothing to de-escalate the situation and instead allows Israel and the U.S. to continue their aggressive policies with impunity.
To exit this crisis, the European Union must shift from inaction to decisive engagement. First, suspending its cooperation agreement with Israel and making its continuation conditional on Israel’s compliance with international law would send a powerful signal. Second, a complete ban on imports from illegal settlements—in line with ICJ rulings—would be a critical step in cutting economic support for the occupation. Third, EU member states must halt arms exports to Israel, given their use in war crimes. Finally, the official recognition of the State of Palestine by the EU and all its member states would not only help restore Europe’s moral credibility, but could also serve as leverage to push Israel back toward peace negotiations.
Europe’s continued silence in the face of the latest violence in Gaza—carried out by Israel with the unconditional support of the U.S.—reveals a stark paradox: a union that claims to defend human rights remains passive in the face of their most egregious violations. This inaction is not only a moral failure and an embarrassment for Europe, but also, considering the regional and global implications of the crisis, strategically indefensible. It is time for the EU to go beyond vague declarations and align its proclaimed values with concrete policy actions. Only then can Europe fulfill its role as both a moral and strategic force on the global stage.
