The Israeli government broke the ceasefire. Europe should hold it to account to bring real peace to Gaza.

Introduction
Gazans are being ‘’trapped, bombed and starved again’’, according to a statement signed by seven UN agencies. Since early March, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza. In just the past week, over 1,000 children have been killed or injured, the highest one-week death toll among children in the past year.

Apr 11, 2025

This is unacceptable, but the responses from most European governments and the European Commission are ridiculously minimal in words and are accompanied by a total lack of action. Europe has to take initiative to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop. 

  

What should Europe do?

The EU should help end the illegal and violent actions of Israel's current extreme government and the violent actions of Hamas. It should also support its democratic civil society movements together with Israelis and Palestinians struggling for their right to self determination, democracy and the rule of law. The EU needs to contribute to upholding international law and respect for human rights. We believe that the EU and its 27 Member States have unused economic and political leverage to bring Netanyahu to the negotiation table. 

Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in safety; every human being’s rights under international law. The path to real safety for all people is through a permanent ceasefire, with the full release of hostages on both sides, and a sustainable peace including normalisation of regional relations. There can only be a two-state solution in which the internationally backed Palestinian Authority effectively governs Gaza and the West bank, without any role for Hamas or other terrorist groups. 

  

The concrete steps the EU and its Member States should take:    

  • Uphold and enforce the ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant;

  • Invoke the human rights clause in article 2 to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement until Israel stops the occupation of Palestinian territory, respects international (humanitarian) law and implements ICC and ICJ rulings/advisory opinions;  

  • Impose a full arms embargo on the export of weapons and military technology until a permanent ceasefire is reached;

  • Immediately impose travel bans and personal financial sanctions on officials including Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for violations of human rights, and on Israeli officials and individuals engaged in illegal settlement policies;

  • Impose an EU-wide ban on the import of products created in illegal settlements;

  • Act immediately to internationally recognise and support the development of an independent, terrorist-free Palestinian State with effective, democratic and legitimate governance based on a strong constitution, the capacity to provide services to citizens and conduct independent international relations;  

  • Defend the ICJ and ICC from coercion and intimidation, in particular by activating the EU’s ‘’blocking statute’’, preventing EU-based businesses from complying with third-country sanctions (such as those introduced by the US) on the ICC that have extraterritorial reach;

  • Provide financial support for civil society organisations struggling for a just political solution in the Middle East and the defence of democracy, human rights and the Rule of Law in Israel, with a focus on those created by Israelis and Palestinians together.   

For a backstory on Gaza, please read here https://volteuropa.org/news/gaza-the-backstory

______________

You and us share the same dream of a united, thriving Europe. It really means a lot to us when you make a donation, and if you would like to help us plan ahead with confidence, we thank you for your monthly contribution 💜