Slovenia urges EU action on Gaza, vows measures if no progress made
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As Gaza faces mass casualties and famine, Slovenia warns that EU inaction risks enabling further atrocities, urging immediate, concrete steps to uphold human rights and international law.
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Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Slovenia has warned it will move independently, alongside like-minded nations, if the European Union fails to adopt meaningful measures within two weeks to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has endured nearly two years of unrelenting Israeli aggression.
Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob voiced growing frustration with what he described as a fragmented European response. He accused certain member states of placing domestic political concerns above the defense of Palestinian rights.
“Unless the EU takes concrete action today or within two weeks, each member state, including Slovenia and some countries that share our views, will be forced to take the next steps on their own,” Golob stated. He criticized symbolic gestures, urging Brussels to impose real pressure on the Israeli government: “It is high time that we do not show just solidarity, but we put real pressure on the Israeli government.”
EU leaders decry Gaza humanitarian crisis as 'catastrophic, abhorrent'
European Council President Antonio Costa described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "catastrophic" and condemned the ongoing human rights violations.
"Human rights are being violated. The review of Israel’s compliance with our joint association agreement has confirmed this is an unacceptable situation," Costa stated, adding that EU foreign ministers will deliberate on possible next steps, emphasizing the importance of a "frank dialogue" with "Israel".
Costa's comments were made as EU member state leaders convened Thursday in Brussels for a high-level summit.
Last week, the European Union's diplomatic service indicated that "Israel" violated its human rights obligations under the terms of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.
The European External Action Service cited assessments from independent international institutions, stating, "There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement."
This assessment follows growing concerns in European capitals regarding the war on Gaza and the deteriorating humanitarian situation due to the ongoing Israeli siege on the enclave.
Gaza genocide escalates as world watches
Since October 7, 2023, "Israel" has carried out a genocidal campaign in Gaza, backed by the United States. The onslaught has involved widespread aerial bombardment, starvation tactics, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, and mass displacement, all in direct violation of international law and in defiance of binding rulings by the International Court of Justice demanding an end to the aggression.
The human toll has been catastrophic. Over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children making up the majority of the victims.
Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, and famine has spread across the besieged territory, claiming the lives of countless children and compounding the suffering of displaced families.
As the EU continues to debate its role, Slovenia’s stance signals a renewed internal dissent that is growing across Europe as officials and governments condemn the EU’s inadequate response to the Gaza crisis, accusing the bloc of taking no meaningful action while the humanitarian catastrophe deepens.
Read more: Study reveals over 84,000 deaths in Gaza, far exceeding ministry toll
