As protests erupted outside EU buildings in Brussels, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, hopeful that change was on the horizon. A newly released EU report indicated that Israel may have violated its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, just ahead of a scheduled summit of European Union leaders. The demonstrators were calling for the EU to suspend its long-standing trade agreement with Israel in light of the escalating situation in Gaza. However, hopes for a unified EU action were quickly dashed due to significant internal divisions regarding the ongoing conflict.
The report cited alarming statistics, with over 55,000 Gazans reportedly killed during the past 20 months of military operations, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The humanitarian crisis has intensified as Israel's blockade on aid to Gaza has displaced approximately 1.9 million people. Despite partial easing of the blockade following international pressure, the UN reports that many Palestinians have continued to face lethal risks while trying to access food and resources.
Agnes Bertrand-Sanz from Oxfam expressed urgency, declaring, "Every red line has been crossed in Gaza.” She emphasized it was crucial for the European Union to take urgent action. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, responded by outlining a plan to engage with Israel concerning the report's findings and signaling that discussions on "further measures" would occur next month if conditions do not improve.
Despite the EU's status as a significant economic entity, its political influence tends to falter in the face of internal disagreements. Critics assert that the EU's lack of decisive action undermines its credibility on the global stage. The UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights, Olivier De Schutter, remarked on the EU's diminishing soft power, noting the moral obligation to respond to what he termed “war crimes” in Gaza.
At the heart of the EU's complex diplomatic structure is the necessity for unanimous consensus among its 27 member countries. A range of stances complicates the matter; while certain nations like Ireland and Spain advocate for stronger measures against Israel, others, including Germany and Austria, oppose such actions fearing a deterioration of relations.
Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris criticized the EU's sluggish response to the ongoing genocide claims, while Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger suggested that suspending the EU’s trade agreement may not yield positive outcomes for Gazans.
As debates heat up within the EU about how to manage its relationship with Israel, the pressure from various stakeholders and NGOs continues to mount. Observers note that Europe has increasingly been sidelined in broader international dialogues on crucial issues, including its support for Ukraine. The current Gaza crisis is a crucial test for both the EU's internal solidarity and its capacity to project power beyond its borders.
