Amid ongoing protests and mounting pressure from NGOs, the EU struggles to articulate a collective response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. A recent report suggests Israel may have violated human rights obligations, yet internal dissent prevents decisive action from the bloc's leaders.
Disunity within the EU as Gaza Crisis Deepens
Disunity within the EU as Gaza Crisis Deepens
The European Union is facing internal divisions as it grapples with a response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, revealing the complexities of achieving a unified stance among its member states.
As the crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, the European Union (EU) finds itself at a crossroads, striving to present a unified voice amidst significant internal discord.
In Brussels, demonstrators holding Palestinian flags rallied outside EU institutions, hoping for substantial action in light of a report presented to foreign ministers that highlighted potential human rights violations by Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The protesters, supported by over 100 NGOs and charities, called for the suspension of the 25-year trade agreement with Israel due to its military operations in Gaza.
Their hopes were dashed as deep divisions among EU member states became apparent. Despite extensive casualties reported by Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry—indicating over 55,000 deaths and 1.9 million displaced—EU leaders hesitated to take swift measures. The situation was exacerbated by Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid, which was only minimally eased following international pressure.
Agnes Bertrand-Sanz from Oxfam emphasized the severity of the situation, asserting that "every red line has been crossed in Gaza" and urging the EU to take decisive action. However, as the report unfolded, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, struggled to provide a clear next step, stating the priority was to "change the situation" as further discussions on the agreement's suspension would only happen next month.
Critics highlighted the EU's failure to act robustly, pointing to its self-proclaimed identity as the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, yet noticeably lacking in coherent political influence. Olivier De Schutter, the UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights, noted the challenge of maintaining credibility without more assertive action against Israel, especially when significant allegations of war crimes hover over the ongoing conflict.
As the EU comprises 27 countries, unanimous decisions are required for foreign policy, creating barriers for action with countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic opposing agreement suspension. Austria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, echoed this concern, asserting that suspending the treaty would not improve the humanitarian condition in Gaza but could damage dialogue with Israel instead.
Supporters of stronger measures, such as Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, Simon Harris, condemned the EU's slow response to the crisis, highlighting the humanitarian toll as unacceptable and labelling the situation a potential genocide. The Israeli government, meanwhile, dismissed the allegations against it while citing a moral obligation to dismantle Hamas following its deadly attacks on October 7, 2023.
Ultimately, the lack of cohesion in addressing the Gaza crisis exemplifies broader challenges the EU faces as it seeks to exert its influence on the world stage, further complicated by internal politics and varying national interests among member states.
