Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.

WP: Europe shifts views on 'Israel' as Gaza war intensifies criticism

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Washington Post
  • 9 Jun 2025 09:27
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, European leaders, including Macron, Starmer, and Merz, criticize "Israel’s" actions, sparking calls for sanctions and a revived two-state solution.

Listen
  • x
  • The Israeli occupation flag and the European Union flag are seen at EU headquarters in Brussels, on January 25, 2023 (Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)
    The Israeli occupation flag and the European Union flag are seen at EU headquarters in Brussels, on January 25, 2023 (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP)

In an excerpt from the WorldView newsletter for the Washington Post, Ishaan Tharoor argues that Europe’s political stance toward "Israel's" "war on Gaza" is undergoing a visible shift, with European leaders taking a more critical stance on "Israel".

As public outrage over "Israel’s" military campaign, mounting Palestinian casualties, and the deepening humanitarian crisis continues, calls for accountability by traditionally allied European states have become prevalent.

This shift in Europe's stance on "Israel" shows a rare break in decades of EU diplomatic alignment with Tel Aviv, as shown by French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently opened a major speech in Singapore by warning that the West's credibility on Ukraine is being undermined by its perceived double standards on Gaza.

According to Tharoor, while reaffirming condemnation of Hamas’ October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood, Macron cautioned that the failure to hold "Israel" accountable risks damaging the legitimacy of European foreign policy, stating that, “if we abandon Gaza... we kill our own credibility in the rest of the world.” 

France, which has traditionally backed a two-state framework, is moving to co-chair a conference with Saudi Arabia on Gaza’s future later this month. Macron is reportedly considering recognition of a Palestinian state, a diplomatic shift that would align France with other European governments already pursuing symbolic recognitions, according to the newsletter.

Macron's efforts signal a possible revival of the two-state solution framework, which has largely been abandoned by the US and Israeli leadership in recent years.

European leaders intensify criticism of Israeli military actions

Related News

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

PIJ condemns Israeli assassinations, crimes in West Bank

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called "Israel’s" actions in Gaza “appalling, counterproductive and intolerable.” While resisting full suspension of arms sales to "Israel", he told parliament the government is weighing targeted sanctions on individual "Israeli" officials.

Tharoor shows that the UK is facing dissent over it's unwavering backing of "Israel" through arms sales in both major parties. Conservative Member of Parliament, Kit Malthouse, declared that Gaza had become “an abattoir” and suggested that, in reverse circumstances, Britain would be deploying troops for humanitarian intervention.

Germany, long seen as "Israel’s" most steadfast ally in Europe, is also rethinking its tone. Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently asked whether the Israeli military still has a clear goal in Gaza, calling the war “a political catastrophe.”

A similar criticism was given by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who when speaking alongside his Israeli counterpart in Berlin, openly condemned new illegal Israeli West Bank settlements, stating, “we cannot ignore that as friends,” and, “this settlement policy is contrary to international law and creates obstacles to a two-state solution.”

EU considers sanctions as Gaza humanitarian crisis worsens

The EU response to the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Gaza Strip has taken on new urgency following recent incidents in which dozens of starving Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire near aid sites linked to the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. 

The Washington Post newsletter shows that Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has called for sanctions against "Israel" to be imposed by the EU, specifically targeting ministers who promote illegal settlements and oppose peace talks.

Meanwhile, the EU is reviewing trade ties with "Israel", though a full suspension remains unlikely due to internal divisions. Some member states, like Hungary, continue to back "Israel" staunchly, while others, including Ireland and Spain, have supported Palestinian statehood.

“The Europeans don’t have much leverage and what they do have they still seem unwilling to use,” said Jeremy Shapiro of the European Council on Foreign Relations, according to Tharoor.

Analysts warn Europe’s stance may still lack real leverage

Even as public opinion turns sharply against "Israel" across the continent, analysts caution that most of the EU’s current response remains performative. Concrete pressure on the ground remains limited, and much depends on the political will of major powers like France, Germany, and the UK to follow through.

According to Tharoor, Europe's shifting stance on "Israel's" brutal assault on the Gaza strip may mark the beginning of a deeper realignment in European foreign policy, one shaped as much by public backlash as by geopolitical calculus.

  • Palestine
  • Condemnation of Israel
  • Keir Starmer
  • Gaza genocide
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • 'Israel'
  • Israeli Sanctions
  • European Union

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS