This week, as European nations gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, many are poised to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Throughout Europe, top officials have not only condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza but some have even escalated their language, using the term “genocide” to describe the ongoing war.
However, beneath these powerful statements, a stark reality emerges: Europe’s bold words have yet to translate into significant, decisive action.
For instance, the European Union considered imposing higher tariffs on Israeli goods, but this initiative’s future remains uncertain. Other proposals aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have encountered strong resistance, particularly from Germany, and have consequently stalled.
Individual European countries also appear to be falling short of their own strong rhetoric. Efforts to channel crucial aid into Gaza have been minimal, even as the territory grapples with severe starvation. Furthermore, only a small number of asylum seekers from Gaza have been welcomed into these nations, as immigration continues to be a contentious domestic political issue.
Belgium, known for its relatively open immigration policies and a significant existing Palestinian community, has seen more Palestinian asylum applications than any other European country. Yet, even here, obtaining asylum can be arduous, with many applicants facing rejection this year. While Belgium has facilitated the evacuation of its citizens and residents’ family members from Gaza, the country closed its evacuation list, which included approximately 500 individuals, back in April.
Bahjat Madi, a 34-year-old resident of Belgium since 2024, originally from Rafah in southern Gaza, is a living testament to this struggle. His father remains trapped in Gaza, desperate to leave.
“I want to do anything for my father to be alive,” Mr. Madi expressed. He has initiated a court case to allow his father’s visa application to be processed remotely, acknowledging the immense difficulty of applying from within Gaza. If successful, his father might eventually join an evacuation list, though this remains a long and uncertain path, potentially taking years.
“I want to tell myself at night, ‘I did my best,’” Mr. Madi reflected. “But it’s not enough.”
For global policymakers, the central question revolves around whether Europe will move beyond its vocal condemnation and genuine concern to implement more impactful actions. While European public opinion has largely turned against Israel’s conduct of the war, deep-seated alliances and complex historical factors have prevented key nations like Germany and Italy from fully endorsing more significant measures.
“I haven’t seen any moment where such international momentum has built up in such a short time, so I think there’s a real opening,” noted Kristina Kausch, deputy managing director for the German Marshall Fund South, an international relations think tank. “But we will have to see what tangible commitments come, beyond the wording.”
She added, “This is not only about Palestinians. This is about whether the West, and Europe, can uphold international law and uphold multilateralism.”
Last week, Luxembourg announced its intention to join Belgium, Britain, and numerous other countries in recognizing a Palestinian state at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly. This initiative, championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to intensify pressure on Israel. The urgency was further highlighted by a United Nations commission’s recent finding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, an allegation Israel vehemently denies as “distorted and false,” but one that is expected to be a focal point at the U.N. meeting.
Some European nations have, however, pursued more direct actions. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, recently vowed a permanent prohibition on weapon and ammunition sales to Israel, following the cancellation of a 700 million euro rocket launcher contract. Belgium has also declared plans for a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Despite these individual efforts, their impact on the broader conflict has been minimal. Other humanitarian measures, such as facilitating the escape of people from the region, are fraught with political complexities.
Memories of the large influx of Syrian refugees in 2015, which significantly contributed to the rise of far-right movements across Germany and other European nations, have made countries hesitant to accept large numbers of displaced Palestinians. Consequently, many Gazans remain trapped within the territory or in uncertain situations in neighboring countries like Egypt.
These nations often assert that their individual capacities are limited, urging the European Union, with its formidable economic and diplomatic power, to lead a coordinated response. Collectively, the EU stands as Israel’s largest trading partner, having accounted for 32 percent of Israel’s total goods trade in 2024.
“It is really an emergency for Europe to take action,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated in a recent interview. “Many, in public opinion, do not understand why Europe is so timid.”
Yet, comprehensive bloc-wide initiatives have consistently struggled to gain traction.
Earlier this year, the European Union’s diplomatic arm conducted a review of its treaty governing relations with Israel. The review uncovered evidence suggesting Israel had violated its human rights obligations under the agreement.
Following these findings, the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, proposed excluding Israel from Horizon Europe, a major research-funding program. However, even this measure failed to secure sufficient backing among member states.
In a powerful display of discontent, over 200 former EU ambassadors and diplomatic personnel penned an open letter last month, voicing their “profound disappointment” at the bloc’s inability to exert more effective pressure on Israel.
Now, the Commission is undertaking its most ambitious move yet: an attempt to suspend a portion of the bloc’s trade agreement with Israel. This would strip preferential treatment from billions of euros worth of trade.
“What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,” Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, declared in a recent address.
This proposal is a clear signal of condemnation. Analysts believe it could potentially become policy, as it requires a large majority rather than unanimous consent.
However, its passage is far from guaranteed.
Germany, in particular, remains hesitant to openly criticize Israel, a stance rooted in its Holocaust history. Italy also shares this reluctance.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany cautioned last week that criticism of Israel is “increasingly a pretext under which the poison of antisemitism is spread.” Mr. Merz indicated on Thursday that his government would decide by early next month whether to support the European Union’s attempts to penalize Israel.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, suggested on Wednesday that the challenges to finding a consensus are likely to persist.
“The political lines are very much in the place where they have been so far,” Ms. Kallas concluded, highlighting the enduring divisions within the bloc.