European Union reactions to the Israel–Hamas war

Gathering in support to Israel in front of the European Parliament in Brussels in presence of Roberta Metsola (President of the European Parliament), Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), Charles Michel (President of the European Council) and Members of the Parliament on October 11, 2023.

The Israel–Hamas war has had significant effects on some major European Union member countries and institutions.

Background

See also: Israel–Hamas war

Israeli President Herzog with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Jerusalem, Israel, 23 November 2023

An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023. It began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing the militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008, it is part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.

The Hamas-led attack on 7 October involved a barrage of several thousand rockets directed at Israel concurrent to an estimated 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli military bases and civilian communities. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals including 766 civilians and 373 security personnel were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack has been described as a major Israeli intelligence failure. Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, threats to the status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its blockade and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in modern history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October with the stated objective of destroying Hamas and controlling the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of the Israeli operation, more than 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, including over 14,000 children and 9,000 women. Several thousand more are missing and presumed trapped under rubble. Nearly all of the strip's 2.3 million population has been internally displaced. Israel's tightened blockade with cut off food, clean water, medicine, and attacks on infrastructure have led to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, including a collapse of the healthcare system and an ongoing famine, leading to accusations that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. By early 2024, Israeli forces had destroyed more than half of Gaza's houses, hundreds of cultural landmarks, 38-48% of tree cover and farmland and dozens of cemeteries. Israel's ground invasion started on 27 October, focusing initially on northern Gaza, including Gaza City. After the expiration of a seven-day truce which involved the release of dozens of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, Israel moved south to attack Khan Yunis on 3 December. By January 2024, Israel reoccupied most of northern Gaza. Israel's next stated objective is a major offensive in Rafah, despite objections from the international community. Israeli forces claim to have killed an estimated 9,000 Palestinian militants during the conflict while the latter killed over 250 Israeli soldiers.

The war has had significant international repercussions. Large protests have occurred across the world, primarily pro-Palestinian ones calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation. Israel's actions have been denounced in the Islamic world and much of the Global South. In December 2023, South Africa launched proceedings at the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has received significant support from its traditional Western allies, most notably the United States, which has provided Israel extensive military aid throughout the war and has vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Timeline

Initial reactions from member States

• European Union: President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she "unequivocally" condemned "the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel", calling it "terrorism in its most despicable form" and saying "Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks". EU ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev condemned the attack. Israeli flags were raised outside the headquarters of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Brussels, while the latter's president Roberta Metsola led a vigil in the chamber on 11 October to commemorate the Israeli victims of the attack which also featured a minute's silence and a rendition of the Israeli national anthem. The European Council issued a joint statement of 15 October, condemning "in the strongest possible terms" Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks.
• Austria: Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced the suspension of the delivery of 19 million euros ($20 million) of aid to Palestinian areas on 9 October in response to Hamas' attack and said that it would review its existing projects in Palestine. He also said that he would summon the Iranian ambassador to address Iran's "abhorrent reactions" to the attack.
• Belgium: Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said on X that the country strongly condemned "the massive rocket attacks against Israeli civilians" and said that their "thoughts are with all those affected".
• Bulgaria: Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov expressed his country's solidarity with the Israeli people and condemned Hamas's attack. The National Assembly building was lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag.
• Croatia: Prime Minister Andrej Plenković condemned the attacks referring to them as "terrorist acts against civilians" and expressed solidarity with Israel. Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Israel.
• Cyprus: President Nikos Christodoulides and the Cypriot embassy in Israel condemned the attacks and stated that Cyprus stood with Israel.
• Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the attack, stating his thoughts were "with the innocent victims of the violence" and wishing "our friends in Israel the swiftest possible handling of the situation and the fulfilment [sic] of their ambitions to live in peace and security." Fiala participated in pro-Israel demonstrations in Prague and called the country "the voice of Israel in Europe."
• Denmark: Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen strongly condemned the attack against Israel, adding that his thoughts were "with the victims, their families and all of Israel".
• Estonia: Marko Mihkelson, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, strongly condemned the attacks against Israel, saying he was "concerned about the expansion of terrorist activity in the region". He invited international organisations to "confront the attempts of terrorist regimes to create instability and chaos in the whole Middle East region."
• Finland: Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen condemned in the strongest terms the "terrorist rocket attacks targeting Israel".
• France: President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the attack and expressed his "full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones". The French embassy in Israel condemned the attacks and described Hamas' actions as "inadmissible terrorist attacks".
• Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was deeply shocked by the "terrifying news" of "rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence". He also said that Germany condemned Hamas' attack and would stand by Israel." Germany suspended €125 million ($131 million) of development aid to Palestine in response to Hamas' attack and said it would review other projects and aid given. Scholz offered military aid to Israel, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Arabs living in Germany to distance themselves from Hamas.
• Greece: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis strongly condemned the terrorist attack against Israel, that caused a high number of casualties among civilians. He also expressed his full support for the people of Israel and its right to self-defense. Migration minister Dimitris Keridis expressed his concerns of a resurgence in illegal immigrants to southern Europe, saying that the attack would "not ease illegal migration".
• Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán strongly condemned the attack against Israel, and stated that he unequivocally supported Israel's right to self-defence. He also expressed his "sympathy and condolences" to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that "our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel in these dark hours".
• Ireland: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar strongly condemned Hamas' attacks against Israel, calling them "appalling" and expressed that Ireland unequivocally condemned attacks on civilians. Tánaiste, Foreign Minister and Defence Minister Micheál Martin further condemned Hamas' "unconscionable" attacks, expressing that "deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified". They called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities. President Michael D. Higgins subsequently issued a statement condemning the attacks as "deeply reprehensible" and expressed his support for Israel's right to defend itself.
• Italy: Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on Israel; saying that "people's lives, the security of the region and the resumption of any political process are at risk." He also urged Hamas to "immediately stop this barbaric violence" and said that Italy supports "Israel's right to exist and defend itself". The Prime Minister's office released a statement saying that the government was "closely following the brutal attack taking place in Israel" and condemned "in the strongest terms the ongoing terror and violence against innocent civilians" It also said it supported "Israel's right to defend itself."
• Latvia: President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed his country's "unwavering support to Israel's legitimate right to defend itself against terrorists". Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields.
• Lithuania: President Gitanas Nausėda said that the country unequivocally condemned Hamas attacks against civilians in Israel and said the country fully supported "Israel in these terrible hours", and expressed "condolences to the families of the victims". He also said that "Israel has the right to defend itself." The Seimas unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Hamas' attacks.
• Luxembourg: Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn condemned Hamas's attack, and underlined the need for a renewed international commitment to a two-state solution.
• Malta called on the United Nations Security Council to hold a meeting regarding the conflict.
• Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the attack by Hamas on Israel and "told him that the Netherlands unequivocally condemns this terrorist violence and fully supports Israel's right to defend itself".
• Poland: Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau condemned "in the strongest terms the ongoing attacks by Hamas against Israel".
• Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António Costa condemned Hamas's attacks as "unacceptable" and deserving of "strong condemnation".
• Romania: President Klaus Iohannis strongly condemned the attack against Israel, adding that the country stood "in full solidarity with Israel in these terrible moments."
• Slovakia: Defence Minister Martin Sklenár condemned the Hamas attacks in the "strongest terms" and supported Israel's right to self-defense.
• Slovenia: Prime Minister Robert Golob condemned the attacks against Israel.
• Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez strongly condemned what he called terrorism and demanded the immediate cessation of indiscriminate violence against the civilian population, likewise affirming Spain's standing commitment to regional stability. Deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop what she called a massacre in Gaza, while Minister of Social Rights Ione Belarra accused the EU and the US of "being complicit in Israel's war crimes" and called for Israel to be denounced before the International Criminal Court because of what she identified as ongoing "planned genocide" in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian peoples. In November 2023, Sanchez criticized Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and called for an "immediate ceasefire". He promised to "work in Europe and in Spain to recognise the Palestinian state".
• Sweden: Foreign Minister Tobias Billström condemned the attack against Israel, and said the government stood in solidarity with all civilians hurt by the attackers.

Initial reactions from European parties

• On the day of the attack, General Secretary of the European People's Party Antonio López-Istúriz White and Vice President of the European People's Party David McAllister issued a statement strongly condemning "the heinous attack launched against Israel by Hamas terrorists".
• On 8 November, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Iratxe García stressed the importance of putting and end to "Netanyahu’s collective punishment of Gaza’s people".
• On 2 December, the European Greens condemned "the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas", but pointed that the civilian cost of the current conflict [in Israel and Gaza] is "unacceptable" and called on Israel to respect international law while defending themselves.

Development

Numerous members of the European Union have gone to Israel for consultations.

• 
  Olaf Scholz and Isaac Herzog, 17 October 2023
• 
  Emmanuel Macron and Isaac Herzog, 24 October 2023
• 
  Alexander De Croo, Benjamin Netanyahu and Pedro Sánchez, 23 November 2023

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola arrived in Israel on 13 October.

On 17 October, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Israel to express solidarity with the country. On his departure from Ben-Gurion airport, he was evacuated to a shelter after a rocket alarm went off.

On 21 October 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Israel to express solidarity with the country. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Israel on 24 October. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrived in Israel on 25 October. During the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, after Israel had launched the invasion of the Gaza Strip the month before, Netanyahu was asked to respect international law, and Sánchez announced that Spain is ready to recognize the State of Palestine. They held a press conference at the Rafah border crossing, emphasizing the importance of Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law. This triggered a harsh reaction from Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen, who subsequently accused both prime ministers of "giving support to terrorism" in Israel.

Serving European Union heads of state and government that have visited Israel during the war

State	Office	Leader	Date	References
European Commission	President	Ursula von der Leyen	October 13, 2023
Romania	Prime Minister	Marcel Ciolacu	October 17, 2023
Germany	Chancellor	Olaf Scholz	October 17, 2023
Italy	Prime Minister	Giorgia Meloni	October 21, 2023
Cyprus	President	Nikos Christodoulides	October 21, 2023
Greece	Prime Minister	Kyriakos Mitsotakis	October 23, 2023
Netherlands	Prime Minister	Mark Rutte	October 23, 2023
France	President	Emmanuel Macron	October 24, 2023
Czech Republic	Prime Minister	Petr Fiala	October 25, 2023
Austria	Chancellor	Karl Nehammer	October 25, 2023
Hungary	President	Katalin Novák	November 5, 2023
Bulgaria	Prime Minister	Nikolai Denkov	November 6, 2023
Latvia	President	Edgars Rinkēvičs	November 20, 2023
Spain	Prime Minister	Pedro Sánchez	November 23, 2023
Belgium	Prime Minister	Alexander De Croo	November 23, 2023
Germany	President	Frank-Walter Steinmeier	November 26, 2023
Czech Republic	President	Petr Pavel	January 15, 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was criticised for supporting Israel and not calling for a ceasefire while EU’s foreign ministers condemned the attack by Hamas but also “called for the protection of civilians and restraint, the release of hostages, for allowing access to food, water and medicines to Gaza in line with international humanitarian law.” Some EU member states — Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Denmark — called her out for what they saw as an usurpation of the European Council foreign policy prerogatives.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has been more critical of Israel, calling the country’s siege of Gaza illegal and dismissing its evacuation order as unrealistic. As European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, he condemned the "barbaric and terrorist attack" by Hamas on Israel which started the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. On 10 October 2023, Borrell accused Israel of breaking international law by imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip. On 3 January 2024, he condemned the comments of the Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, writing, "Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of [international humanitarian law] & words matter." In March 2024, Borrell said Israel's depriving food from Palestinians was a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and described the Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident as "totally unacceptable carnage".

On 10 April 2024, the UN's special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese said that the EU should suspend ties with Israel to prevent crimes of genocide in Gaza, supporting the initiative made by Ireland and Spain for a review of the EU-Israel agreement as she said that under the current situation, Israel has "no incentive whatsoever to change conduct".

UNRWA

See also: Israeli allegations against UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees, being the only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from a specific region or conflict.

On 26 January 2024, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced it was investigating allegations, presented to it by Israel nearly two weeks before, of the involvement of a dozen of its employees in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, with 12 UNRWA employees allegedly involved in the attacks, and spreading allegations that around ten percent of the UNRWA's 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip have connections to Islamist militant groups. This accusation led to temporary suspension of funding to the organization by many European Union members, including Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. This funds halt was criticized by several international organizations "considering the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip", and led to other EU members—namely Spain, Portugal and Ireland—to increase their funding of UNRWA. Among the top ten individual European Union donors, France, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Ireland did not halt their donations. The EU, which had suspended funding pending the outcome of the UNRWA investigations, restored and increased its funding on 1 March 2024 as so did Sweden after receiving assurances of extra checks on its spending and personnel.

On 29 January 2024, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told UN Secretary-General António Guterres that funding has not been suspended and the EU will determine funding decisions after the investigation. Borrell stated, "We shouldn’t let allegations cloud UNRWA’s indispensable and great work."

On 1 March 2024, the EU decided not to await the outcome of the UNRWA investigation, and instead put in place a €275 million funding package, being restoration of 2024 funding of €82 million, plus €125 million of humanitarian aid for Palestinians for 2024, which UNRWA is not excluded from implementing and another €68 million through international partners like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. At the same time, the EU agreed with UNRWA reached an agreement with UNRWA on an audit to be made by EU appointed external experts.

Spanish Foreign minister José Manuel Albares stated on 29 January 2024 that Spain "will not change our relationship with UNRWA, although we are closely following the internal investigation and the outcome it may yield for the actions of a dozen people out of about 30,000" because the UNRWA is an agency "essential to alleviate the humanitarian situation". The same day, Spanish Social Affairs minister Pablo Bustinduy called out the suspension of UNRWA funds by other western countries "an unjustifiable collective punishment of the Palestinian people".

Flour massacre

See also: Flour massacre

On 29 February 2024 at least 118 people were killed and 760 injured after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians seeking food from aid trucks near to the Al-Nabulsi Roundabout on the coastal Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City

Following the incident, French foreign minister Stéphane Séjourné stated, "We will demand explanations and there will need to be an independent investigation."." The European External Action Service stated that many of the dead and wounded were "hit by Israeli army fire" and called for an independent investigation. The office of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an "impartial international investigation on this tragic event". Foreign ministers of Belgium, Germany and Italy condemned the attack, while Spanish foreign minister claimed that this "underlines the urgency of a ceasefire"

World Central Kitchen drone strikes

See also: World Central Kitchen drone strikes

On 1 April 2024 Israeli drones targeted a three-car convoy belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in the Gaza Strip, killing seven aid workers. The attack occurred despite the WCK having coordinated their route with the Israeli military, which both parties have acknowledged

The attack drew widespread international condemnation and led the World Central Kitchen to pause its operations in the Gaza Strip, along with other humanitarian and aid organizations operating there. Statements made by the Israeli ambassador in Poland on the incident led to a diplomatic spat between the two countries, as Israel's ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne, a few hours after the shelling of the WCK convoy, made several posts on social media, rejecting accusations of committing a war crime made by Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm Krzysztof Bosak. The ambassador wrote that the "extreme right and left in Poland" were accusing Israel of "intentional murder in the attack." He ended his statement by saying that anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites. The ambassador's statement sparked outrage. Polish President Andrzej Duda described it as "not very fortunate and, in short, outrageous," while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he did not approve of the way the ambassador spoke about the shelling of the convoy and that he expected words of apology. The incident led to the ambassador being summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry on 5 April 2024.

Belgium, Ireland and Cyprus called for an immediate investigation on the incident, while Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sánchez said he was "expecting and demanding an explanation from the Israeli government" for the deaths of the seven aid workers. After the explanations given by the IDF and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Sánchez deemed them "completely unacceptable and insufficient".

April 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel

See also: April 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel

On 13 April 2024, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military—in coordination with the Popular Mobilization Forces of Iraq, Lebanese group Hezbollah, and the Houthis of Yemen—launched hundreds of airstrikes, codenamed Operation True Promise (Persian: وعده صادق, romanized: va'de-ye sādeq), against Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, with drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. The operation was in retaliation to the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus on 1 April that killed 16 people. It was Iran's first direct attack on Israel and the first direct conflict since the start of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict.

The attack was the biggest drone strike in history, intended to saturate anti-missile defences, and the first time since 1991 Iraqi attacks that Israel was attacked directly by the military of another state. Iran's attacks have drawn criticism from the United Nations, several world leaders, and political analysts, who warned that they risk escalating into a full-blown regional war.

On 13 April, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides called for an emergency meeting of the National Security Council which was held on 14 April to discuss the developments in the region. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack on Israel. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a precautionary measure enacted the "Estia" plan.>.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the Iranian attack as "unjustifiable and highly irresponsible", and assured that "Germany stands by Israel". French President Emmanuel Macron, along with other leaders, put pressure on Israel not to respond to the attack, in order to avoid escalation in the regional conflict. Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "strongly condemned" Iran's attack and called it "an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security".

Rafah military operation

See also: Rafah offensive

The Rafah offensive is an ongoing offensive in the city of Rafah, the southernmost area of the Gaza Strip, part of Israel's invasion of the strip during the Israel–Hamas war. When ceasefire talks faltered, Israel entered Rafah on 6 May 2024, taking control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. after ordering the evacuation of Palestinians from eastern Rafah to areas in central Gaza and Khan Yunis. Later that day, Hamas accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, but Israel did not accept the ceasefire deal and indicated that the offensive would continue before any pause. Israel conducted airstrikes on Rafah the same day, and seized the Rafah crossing.

This operation triggered the response of many EU leaders, mostly condemning the actions as "alarming" and "concerning". Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated, "Reports of an Israeli military offensive on Rafah are alarming. It would have catastrophic consequences worsening the already dire humanitarian situation and the unbearable civilian toll." Previously on 19 February, every single member state of the European Union, with the exception of Hungary, asked the Israeli military not to take military action in Rafah.

• Belgium: Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has warned that Israel's incursion "would cause a further unmitigated humanitarian catastrophe and result in the death of numerous innocent civilians, again mostly children and women."
• Denmark: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement on X, said that "Denmark shares the concern of EU and others regarding a potential Israeli military offensive in Rafah where more than half of Gaza's population is seeking refuge."
• France: Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné stated an Israeli assault on Rafah would be unjustified. In a phone call, Emmanuel Macron told Netanyahu that he was opposed to a military invasion of Rafah. On 16 February, Macron stated, "I share the fears of Jordan and Egypt of a forced and massive displacement of the population".
• Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated, "Taking action now in Rafah, the last and most overcrowded place, as announced by the Israeli defence minister, would simply not be justifiable". On 14 February, Baerbock stated, "If the Israeli army were to launch an offensive on Rafah... it would be a humanitarian catastrophe." On 17 February, Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany's support for Israel's "security", but also warned Israeli leaders to abide by international law. On 16 March, Scholz stated, "There is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah will result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be strictly prohibited".
• Ireland: Micheál Martin stated an Israeli invasion of Rafah would entail "grave violations of international humanitarian law".
• Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated, "We will reiterate our opposition to military action on the ground by Israel in Rafah that could have even more catastrophic consequences for the civilians".
• Luxembourg: Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel told Israel they risked losing "the last support they have in the world" if they attacked Rafah.
• Netherlands: Foreign Minister, Hanke Bruins Slot, stated that Israel's planned assault on Rafah was "unjustifiable". Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated, "An Israeli offensive in Rafah would cause a humanitarian disaster".
• Slovenia: The Prime Minister Robert Golob stated, "There is a common consensus in saying that we should do everything we can to prevent an attack on Rafah."
• Spain: The country signed a joint statement with the government of Ireland stating, "The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront".

Position in international bodies

A map that shows the countries and their respective voting in the United Nations General Assembly resolution ES-10/21 calling for an "immediate and sustained" humanitarian truce and cessation of hostilities.

  In favor

  Against

  Abstentions

  Absent

  Non member

A map that shows the countries and their respective voting in the United Nations General Assembly resolution ES-10/22 calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, "immediate and unconditional" hostage release, "ensuring humanitarian access" and that "all parties comply with their obligations under international law"

  In favor

  Against

  Abstentions

  Absent

  Non member

Within the European Union, positions remain divided. Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain are among the sharpest critics of Israel's actions in the Gaza strip, with some such as Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez calling for the international recognition of the Palestinian State "before July [2024]".

On 27 October, the United Nations General Assembly held a vote that saw 120 countries pass a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and demanding aid be allowed into Gaza. Eight EU countries — Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain — voted for the resolution, while 15 EU members abstained from that vote. Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Hungary voted against the resolution. On 12 December, the UN voted again a similar resolution, with only Austria and the Czech Republic voting against while Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Poland and Sweden voted in favor for the first time.

Following the South Africa's case against Israel before the International Court of Justice, it received the support of Ireland and Slovenia, while government ministers in Belgium and Spain stated that they were working on making their governments support the suit. On the other side, Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary and Italy stated their opposition to this case, with the Hungarian Foreign Minister condemning the "legal attack launched against Israel" and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating that "Israel's self-defence" against Hamas cannot be considered genocide". On 26 January 2024, the Spanish government issued a statement celebrating the ICJ's decision in regard of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), calling on all parties "to respect and comply with these measures in their entirety". The European Commission and the High Representative issued a joint communication endorsing the International Court of Justice's order on South Africa's request for the indication of provisional measures in regard of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), noting that "Orders of the International Court of Justice are binding on the Parties and they must comply with them".

On 18 January 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire, although conditional on Hamas releasing the hostages they made on the 7 October attacks, as included by the European People's Party as an unnegotiable condition for their support, resulting in 312 MEPs voting in favor, 131 voting against and 72 abstaining.

On 14 February 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez along with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar demanded in a joint letter to the EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to assess whether Israel is complying with the obligations regarding human rights stipulated in the EU–Israel Association Agreement, and to take immediate measures in case of a breach in the agreement

On 22 March, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Malta announced they were ready to recognise the State of Palestine in a joint statement as the best way to achieve "long-lasting peace in the region". On 10 April, prior to a meeting with the heads of government of Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium to push for a joint position, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez stated that recognizing Palestinian statehood "would redound in the geopolitical interest of Europe” A few days later after a meeting between newly appointed Taoiseach Simon Harris and Prime Minister Sánchez both reiterated their intention to forge an alliance of countries willing to recognize Palestinian statehood. Newly elected Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro later announced that his country would not go as far as Spain to recognize Palestinian statehood without a broader European common position.

On 1 March, Nicaragua announced that it was taking Germany to the International Criminal Court over weaponry supply to Israel and the suspended German funding of the UNRWA, accusing the country of allowing genocide to happen. However, on 30 April the Court ruled that no emergency orders to stop Germany's arms sales to Israel was in need.

Ireland and Spain, along with non-EU member Norway, officially recognized Palestinian statehood on 28 May 2024, followed by Slovenia on 5 June 2024. Following the Israeli attack on an UNRWA school on 6 June 2024, Spain announced that it was joining the South Africa's case against Israel before the International Criminal Court.

Public opinion

According to a YouGov poll conducted in seven Western European nations in December 2023, the most pro-Israeli country was Germany, where 29% of respondents said they sympathized more with Israel, rather than Palestine (12%). However, the poll showed that sympathy primarily for Israel dipped across the countries surveyed. On the contrary, Spain was shown to be the most pro-Palestinian country, with 27% sympathizing with that side more, compared to 19% for Israel. In the same way, Spain (59%), followed by Italy (56%), tended to see Israel's attacks on Gaza in response to the October 7 attack as unjustified, while France was evenly divided.

YouGov repeated the polling among these seven nations in July 2024, finding a decline in public sympathy for Israel and an increase in sympathy for Palestine in all countries. The most pro-Israeli countries in July were France and Sweden, where 21% of their population identified as pro-Israel; but in Sweden a higher share said they are pro-Palestinian (25%) and in France the two sides were equal in size. Sympathy for Israel fell sharply to 19% in Germany, although the rise in the pro-Palestinian population was only modest, to 15% — the lowest percentage among the countries studied. Spain remained the most pro-Palestinian country, with 34% of the population taking this position, and the pro-Israel side dipping to 14% in July. Italy was the least pro-Israeli country, with 7% of the population taking that position, and, along with Britain, the second most pro-Palestinian, with 28%.

In a separate poll conducted commissioned by the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy in March, YouGov measured other views pertaining the war in five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Between 33% and 49% of the population in these countries endorsed the view that Israel was committing genocide during the Gaza war, while 17% and 26% took the opposite view. A plurality of Germans (44%) and Italians (36%) believed their country was taking a pro-Israeli stance, while in Belgium (30%) and Sweden (29%) their governments were seen as being neutral. Only in Belgium did a higher percentage of the population believe their country favoured Palestine (19%) than favoured Israel (16%). In all five countries, a plurality of the population said they would prefer their government take an impartial stance, this being the case especially in Germany (37%). Between 12% and 24% of the population would like their government to be more supportive of Palestine, while 4% to 9% would like to see more support for Israel.

In all of these countries, between 50% and 65% of the population would approve of an arms embargo on Israel, while only 17% to 28% of the population would oppose such a measure. Legally prosecuting Israeli leaders for war crimes is supported by 49% to 62% of the population, and opposed by 16% to 25%.

According to a poll conducted by the Forsa Institute on behalf of German newspaper Die Welt in December 2023, 45% of respondents in Germany agreed with the statement, "Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip is all in all appropriate", whereas 43% disagreed. In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel, 44% of Germans said that their country had "a special obligation towards Israel"; however, in December 2023, that number dropped to 37%. In March 2024, 69% of Germans stated Israel's actions in Gaza were unjustified.

A survey commissioned by Baltic News Service in November of the same year found that 38.1% of respondents in Lithuania supported Israel's actions in Gaza, whereas 30.4% did not support them, and 31.5% had no opinion on the matter. Voters of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (58.8%), Union of Democrats "For Lithuania", Liberals' Movement and Freedom Party were most in favor of Israel's actions, while voters of Lithuanian Regions Party and People and Justice Union were least in favor.

According to an opinion poll aired by Greek TV channel Star Channel two days after the visit of Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Israel, 18.4% of Greeks were in favor of a pro-Israel position, whereas 11.5% wanted Greece to be openly pro-Palestinian.

Protests in member countries

Since the October 7 attacks, as a slate of government buildings across Europe were lit up in blue-and-white in solidarity with Israel, and several EU countries, such as Germany and France, pro-Palestinian rallies have been banned in the name of ensuring public order and preventing the spread of anti-Semitism, receiving some criticism of free speech violations. However, since the start of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip, many EU countries have seen widespread protests in support of Palestine and against Israel's actions.

Protest in front of the European Commission branch in Barcelona, 7 January 2024

Austria

On 13 January 2024, a pro-Palestine march was held in Vienna as part of the "Global day of action".

Belgium

On 10 December 2023, about 4,000 people in Brussels waved Belgian flags and demonstrated against antisemitism amid concern over the rising number of antisemitic incidents in Europe from the Israel-Hamas war.

On 21 January 2024, protesters in Brussels demonstrated against the war and called for a permanent ceasefire. Ahead of a foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, a group of 100 prominent individuals, including former Irish president Mary Robinson and former Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom, called on the EU to prevent the "unprecedented rate of civilian killing" in Gaza.

Cyprus

On 15 October a pro-Palestinian protest was held in Larnaca. On 19 October, a protest in support of Gaza was held in Nicosia. Another pro-Palestinian protest was organised by the Cyprus Peace Council on 20 October attended by 2,000 protestors as well as MPs, mayors, the general secretary of AKEL and the Palestinian ambassador to Cyprus. On 17 October a pro-Israel rally was organised by the Israeli community. Protests were held at the UK's RAF Akrotiri base on 14 and 15 January 2024 after the base was used to launch airstrikes on Yemen.

Denmark

"Jews for a free Palestine" banner in Copenhagen, 2 February 2024

Protesters marched in support of Gaza in Copenhagen on 2 February 2024, chanting "Free Palestine" and "Palestine will never die".

Pro-Palestinian protest in Helsinki, Finland, 21 October

France

Further information: March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism

March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism in Paris, France, 12 November

In reaction to Khaled Meshaal's call for a "day of rage", the government put a prohibition on pro-Palestinian protests. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said that such gatherings were likely to cause disturbances to public order.

However, on the night of 12 October, police fired tear gas and water cannons to break up a banned pro-Palestinian rally in Paris. The same day, the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions organized a pro-Israel rally. This resulted in President Emmanuel Macron urging citizens to refrain from bringing the conflict home.

On 14 October, French-Algerian journalist Taha Bouhafs was arrested while covering a pro-Palestine protest in Paris. He told +972 Magazine that people were getting "strangled by the police", and that the police fined him for participating in an "illegal demonstration" despite showing his press card. He also claimed that the police threatened to break his legs if they saw him again at a protest.

On 22 October, France held its first authorized pro-Palestine rally, drawing 15,000 participants who chanted, "Gaza, Paris is with you."

On 12 November, over 100,000 people marched against antisemitism in Paris. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, the heads of France's upper and lower houses of parliament, former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, and several leading politicians joined the demonstrators. However, the presence of the far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose party has had a history of antisemitism, caused criticism from some participants such as Borne, who is the daughter of Holocaust survivors. On 21 January 2024, Paris police stopped and dispersed an automobile parade waving Palestinian flags. On 22 January, MP Louis Boyard was verbally assaulted and threatened by a pro-Israeli activist. A mass demonstration occurred in Marseille in support of Palestine on 18 February.

Germany

Pro-Israel protest in Hanover, 10 October

Pro-Palestine protest in Berlin, 4 November

In Berlin, authorities banned a pro-Palestinian rally from being held. A number of spontaneous demonstrations protesting the bombing of Gaza took place across the country, but were forcefully broken up by police. Germany banned fundraising, the displaying of the Palestinian flag and the wearing of the keffiyeh.

On 22 October, a pro-Israel rally was held in Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was present at the demonstration, as well as representatives from the German-Israeli Society, most mainstream political parties, the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany, the German Bishops' Conference, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the Federation of German Industries, the German Trade Union Confederation and the Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor. On 24 February, protesters in Berlin carried a sign reading, "Stop the Genocide". In Neukölln, a neighborhood of Berlin, pro-Palestinian protesters described police crackdowns on protest that were "shocking and violent".

Greece

On 12 October 2023, 200 demonstrators gathered at Syntagma Square in Athens to show solidarity with Palestine. A day later, 2,000 protestors including Palestinians, members of Muslim communities, left-wing and anarchist groups marched towards the Israeli embassy. On 29 October, a crowd of 5,000 demonstrated in Athens, calling for an end to the "Gaza massacre." On 28 March 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked a tank while in a military parade for Greece’s Independence Day in Athens.

Ireland

Pro-Palestine protest in Dublin, Ireland, 18 November

Thousands of people marched in cities and towns across Ireland, including Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Ennis, Galway and Limerick in support of Palestine and against Israel's attacks on Gaza and the continuing occupation of Palestine. Residents of Ballina, the ancestral hometown of US president Joe Biden, splashed red paint and wrote "Genocide Joe" over a mural of the president's face.

Italy

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Rome, carrying a large Palestinian flag and chanting slogans in support of Palestine. On 17 November, a long Palestinian flag was hung from the Leaning Tower of Pisa during a pro-Palestinian protest in the city. On 27 January 2024, In Milan, police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters despite an official ban on protests on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Latvia

A pro-Palestine procession planned on 6 January 2024 by the "For a Free Palestine" movement was prohibited by the Riga City Council due to a perceived potential threat to public safety.

Luxembourg

On 13 January 2024, as a part of the "global day of action", protestors gathered in front of the US embassy in Luxembourg City to demand an end to the Israeli war in Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.

Netherlands

Anti-war demonstrations with Palestinian flags in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

A group of students rallied in The Hague on 13 October to show solidarity with Palestine, followed by a 15,000-strong pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam on 15 October. On 23 October, activists opposed to Israel's actions in Gaza occupied the entrance to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, demanding action against Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. On 21 December, civil servants demanded a truce. In January 2024, a billboard campaign displayed messages regarding the war, including, "Every ten minutes one Palestinian child dies." On 13 January 2024, A protest organised by Plant een Olijfboom (Plant an Olive Tree) foundation was held in Amsterdam, honoring the children of Gaza by placing around 10,000 pairs of children's shoes in Dam Square, representing one Palestinian child killed by Israeli air strikes.

On 12 January 2024, hundreds of pro-Israel protesters carrying Dutch and Israeli flags gathered outside the International Court of Justice. Hundreds of Palestinian supporters also gathered to watch the genocide hearings on a large screen less than a hundred metres away from the pro-Israel group. A healthcare workers collective protested against Gaza's healthcare collapse with five demands: an end to Israel's bombing of hospitals; an end to the killing of healthcare workers; end of arms sales to Israel; the release of abducted healthcare workers; and immediate access to medical supplies. During a visit by Isaac Herzog to the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam, Amnesty International posted detour signs around the museum directing Herzog to The Hague.

On 17 March 2024 people lined up thousands of shoes dedicated to the 13,000 children that lost their lives because of the war in a public square in Utrecht.

Poland

On 23 January 2024, one person protested against the alleged Israeli genocide of Palestinians at the Israeli embassy in Warsaw.

Portugal

On 29 October, a pro-Palestine protest was held in Lisbon.

Pro-Palestine protest in Lisbon, Portugal, 29 October

Romania

On 12 October, a pro-Israel rally was organised in Bucharest by the Romanian Jewish community and the Israeli Embassy. It was attended by more than 600 people, including Health Minister Alexandru Rafila, former Defence Minister Vasile Dîncu, and opposition leader George Simion.

On 21 October, a pro-Palestine rally was held in Bucharest and attended by over 1,000 demonstrators, including Twitch streamer and left-wing activist Silviu Istrate.

Slovenia

On 13 October, pro-Palestinian protests were organised in Ljubljana.

Pro-Palestine protest in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 13 October

Spain

Pro-Israel protest in Barcelona, 15 October

Pro-Palestine protest in Madrid, 20 January 2024

On 9 October, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. On 13 October, protestors rallied at the Columbus Monument in Barcelona. On 8 December, over 3000 pro-Palestine protesters in Guernica formed a massive mosaic with a human chain depicting the Palestinian flag to express their solidarity. On 27 January 2024, an estimated 20,000 marched in support of Palestine in Madrid. At least six cabinet ministers joined a march for a ceasefire in Madrid.

Sweden

As of November 2023, numerous demonstrations have been held since the war began, both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli.

On 7 January 2024, protesters demonstrated against the war outside the US Embassy in Stockholm. On 28 January, pro-Palestinian protests were held in Helsingborg, Malmö, and Gothenburg. On 29 February, Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani used her allotted speaking time during the parliamentary session to stage a silent protest.

Student protests

Many European universities have seen protests in their campus, with police being forced to intervene in some of them.

On April 25, students from Sorbonne University called on the French government to help Palestinians. In the Netherlands, Police clashed with pro-Palestinian students as thousands marched in Amsterdam a day after riot police violently broke up an encampment at Amsterdam University. The UvA had to cancel classes for two days following violent clashes going on between the students and the police.

In Germany, police broke up a protest by pro-Palestinian students who had occupied Berlin’s Free University, an intervention supported by Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, while in Munich there is an ongoing conflict between the town council and students camped at the Ludwig Maximilian University.

In Finland, students set up camp outside the main building at the University of Helsinki and in Denmark they set up a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Copenhagen.

In Italy, students at the University of Bologna, one of the world’s oldest universities, set up a tent encampment, as the same happened in Rome and Naples.

In Spain, student protests have arosen on the University of Valencia campus, the University of Barcelona and the University of the Basque Country, while students from the Complutense University of Madrid and the Autonomous University of Madrid, have announced they would step up protests in collaboration with the rest of Madrid public universities in the coming days. The governing body of the Spanish universities (CRUE) announced on May 9 that they would "review and, if necessary, suspend" collaboration agreement with universities and research centers from Israel not committed to international humanitarian laws, as well as expressing solidarity with those students in protest.

In Ireland, following five days of protests, the Trinity College of Dublin agreed to cut ties with Israeli companies.

See also

• Israel-Hamas war

External links

• Media related to European Commission response to the COVID-19 pandemic at Wikimedia Commons
• EU Open Data: COVID-19 situation dashboard
• Cohesion policy action against coronavirus
• REACT-EU, CRII, CRII+ and European Social Fund+ explained