TEHRAN – The European government has seen an increase in pressure to act against Israel as civilian casualties and widespread hunger in Gaza in the midst of nearly two years of conflict on Palestinian territory.
Since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, demonstrations have erupted across European cities, urging the government to pressure protesters to end the battle. The situation is getting worse as Israel’s near-simultaneous siege of Gaza has led to serious food shortages and calls for urgent European intervention.
After further escalating the integrated food security stages (IPC), a global hunger monitoring agency that works with the United Nations and major aid agencies, on August 22, it declared that “fully artificial” hunger is ongoing in Gaza city, the largest urban area of the Strip and its surrounding areas. The IPC warned that aggravating conditions threatened a sharp increase in deaths across the territory.
However, the European response is divided. Countries such as Spain and Ireland have argued for robust pressure on Israel to halt attacks on Palestinians, but other countries, including close allies such as Germany, prefer limited or direct actions.
On Friday, foreign ministers from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain issued a joint statement denounced Israel’s planned city of Gaza. Citing the IPC’s hunger declaration, the minister emphasized the urgent need for UN agencies and NGOs operating in Gaza to mitigate humanitarian catastrophes.
Amid growing international scrutiny, Slovenia and the Netherlands urged the European Union to adopt stronger measures against Israel. Slovenia said existing measures were insufficient, including Israeli ministers blocking entry and trade restrictions, and that the Netherlands, joined by Sweden, had sought EU-level sanctions.
The protests against Israeli policy in Gaza hope that the EU will take more critical steps to curb the suffering and hunger of the enclave’s civilians. However, the effectiveness of European pressure remains uncertain, particularly given Israel’s strategic partnership with its major western allies with the United States. The ability of Europe to translate growing public and political demands into concrete actions is a critical test of its ability to influence an ongoing crisis.