From protests to sanctions: Europe's shift away from 'Israel'
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European leaders face mounting unrest as strikes, boycotts, and cultural bans spread, with Italy and Spain leading efforts to confront "Israel" over Gaza.
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Demonstrators take part in the 'Stop Rearm Europe' march in Rome, Saturday, June 21, 2025, walk in front of the Colosseum. (AP)
Europe is undergoing a dramatic recalibration of its position on the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, reflected in swelling pro-Palestine demonstrations, calls to isolate "Israel" from cultural and sporting arenas, and the deployment of naval forces to escort humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.
In a move once considered unimaginable, several European countries have also formally recognized a Palestinian state.
As the humanitarian toll deepens, European leaders are increasingly breaking their long-standing reluctance to openly criticize "Israel". Pressed by protests at home, they are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to accept a ceasefire and guarantee unhindered access for aid convoys.
“There has been a groundbreaking shift in Europe, where somewhere over the last year, populations have been putting more pressure on their governments, which has helped break taboos at the top over criticism of Israel,” Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, told The Independent.
The shift is evident in Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, previously one of "Israel’s" staunchest allies in Europe, has hardened her position. Following nationwide strikes and mass protests from Palermo to Milan, Meloni declared her backing for European Union sanctions against "Israel". Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, she said, “Israel ended up violating humanitarian norms, causing a massacre among civilians.”
Wider context
The Israeli genocide began on October 7, 2023. Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 66,000 people have been killed, with women and children accounting for the majority of fatalities.
The bombardment has levelled large swathes of Gaza, displaced 90% of its population, and triggered famine in Gaza City. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 289 journalists have also been killed.
Public outrage is reflected in protest numbers. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) tracked 780 pro-Palestine demonstrations across Europe between December and April. In the last five months alone, that number surged to 2,066, an average of more than 15 per day. By comparison, just 51 pro-"Israel" rallies were recorded, roughly half of them in Germany.
Addressing the UN shortly after Meloni, Netanyahu acknowledged the dwindling support. “Sure, in the days immediately following 7 October, many [leaders] supported Israel. But that support quickly evaporated when Israel did what any self-respecting nation would do in the wake of such a savage attack,” he said.
Historic ties, current strains
"Israel’s" ties to Europe run deep. Emerging from the devastation of the Second World War, its first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, forged close economic, political, and cultural links with the continent. Today, the EU is "Israel’s" largest trading partner.
“Israel is from Europe, and anyone who fails to admit it or understand it doesn’t really understand this country,” said Sharon Pardo, professor at Ben-Gurion University. Yet Netanyahu’s embrace of Europe’s far-right parties has reportedly unsettled the mainstream establishment.
“Netanyahu’s Israel is an anti-European Union country, a Eurosceptic country that does its utmost to harm the European integration project,” Dr. Pardo argued.
European leaders initially rallied behind "Israel". EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited a kibbutz days after October 7 and pledged solidarity. But nearly two years later, even she has sharpened her tone.
Von der Leyen recently urged the EU to intensify pressure on "Israel", saying the trajectory of the war had become “simply unacceptable". Her proposals included higher tariffs on Israeli goods, sanctions on extremist settlers, and cabinet members.
According to Lisa Musiol of the International Crisis Group, growing internal dissent also played a role. “There’s been a more systematic shift in the last months,” she told The Independent, pointing to open letters signed by over 2,000 EU staffers and nearly 400 former diplomats criticising Brussels’ Gaza policy.
Divisions in Berlin, shifts in Rome
Germany remains "Israel’s" closest ally in Europe, rooted in what it perceives as its responsibility for the Holocaust. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats back "Israel", though the coalition’s Social Democrats are increasingly critical. Merz has limited arms exports but ruled out sanctions. Still, tens of thousands rallied in Berlin last weekend demanding an end to the war.
Italy may prove more decisive. Meloni has voiced support for recognizing Palestinian statehood, in line with recent moves by France, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the UK, among others.
Rome has also joined Spain in sending naval escorts for a flotilla of activists challenging "Israel’s" blockade, after the group reported being attacked by drones near Greece.
Protesters and political leaders are also targeting "Israel’s" presence in cultural and sporting life. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged "Israel’s" exclusion from international events, declaring it should be banned until the “barbarity” in Gaza ends. Some European nations have threatened to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest if "Israel" is allowed to compete.
Read more: Italian port workers threaten full trade halt with 'Israel'
