On September 4, 2025, European politics were shaken by a statement that reverberated from Paris to Brussels and beyond. Teresa Ribera, the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, stood before an audience at Sciences Po Paris and did not mince words: "The genocide in Gaza exposes Europe’s failure to act and speak with one voice, even as protests spread across European cities and 14 UN Security Council members call for an immediate ceasefire." According to Reuters and Politico, Ribera’s declaration marked the first time a senior EU Commission official publicly accused Israel of genocide in Gaza—a seismic shift in the bloc’s rhetoric and a flashpoint for diplomatic controversy.
This was not Ribera’s first foray into criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, but it was by far her strongest. Previously, she had suggested that the displacement and killing in Gaza looked "very much like" genocide. But on this September day, she crossed a line that no other European Commissioner had, categorically labeling Israel’s actions as genocide. The move immediately drew the ire of Israeli officials, who accused her of parroting Hamas propaganda. As an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson told Euractiv, "By doing so, Ribera has made herself a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda." The spokesperson went further, urging Ribera to call for the release of hostages and for Hamas to lay down its arms, rather than "parroting the 'genocide' blood libel spread by Hamas."
Ribera’s comments came against a backdrop of deep and persistent divisions among the 27 EU member states over how to respond to Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli government figures. Since then, Gaza’s health officials have reported more than 62,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli air and ground operations, with most of the victims being women and children. These staggering numbers have fueled outrage and protests across Europe, as well as mounting calls for an immediate ceasefire from the international community.
Yet, the European Union has struggled to find common ground. While countries like Germany insist on Israel’s right to self-defense, citing international law, others—including Spain, Ribera’s home country—have openly denounced what they call a genocide against Palestinians. This lack of consensus has paralyzed EU action, leaving the bloc unable to present a unified front or take decisive steps. "Europe’s inability to act and speak with one voice" was a refrain Ribera returned to in her speech, highlighting the EU’s paralysis even as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate.
In late June 2025, the European Commission concluded that Israel had violated the EU association agreement’s article requiring respect for human rights, as reported by AL24 News and Le Monde. In response, the Commission proposed suspending certain European funding for Israeli start-ups, including a partial suspension of Israeli companies from the Horizon research program. But here, too, division reigned: weeks of negotiations have failed to secure the necessary approval from EU member states, and the measure remains stalled.
The diplomatic fallout was immediate and intense. Israel’s foreign ministry condemned Ribera’s remarks as "baseless allegations," and the government has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned similar charges as "outrageous," especially in light of a pending case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide. The Israeli government also criticized the European Commission’s proposed funding suspension, arguing that it would only serve to strengthen Hamas rather than advance peace.
Ribera’s stance was not formed in isolation. She was one of four commissioners to sign a letter to civil servants this week, stating that Gaza was the "primary focus" of the institution and calling for "urgent action." In their joint statement, the commissioners reiterated, "The EU has consistently called for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid." Yet, critics argue that even these calls have not translated into meaningful pressure or results on the ground.
The diplomatic rifts are not limited to the EU-Israel axis. Within Europe, leaders have taken markedly different paths. French President Emmanuel Macron has emerged as a central figure, planning to co-host an international conference with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to advance a two-state solution at the upcoming UN General Assembly. Macron has declared his intention to recognize a Palestinian state regardless of any ceasefire deal with Hamas. Israel, for its part, refused Macron’s proposed visit unless he dropped his recognition plan—a condition the French president flatly rejected. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar took to social media to accuse Macron of "trying to interfere from outside in a conflict he is not part of," and of "undermining stability in the region." France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended Macron, citing efforts to secure commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including ending payments to terrorists and revising school textbooks.
Belgium, too, has taken a hard line, announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state during the General Assembly and imposing 12 sanctions on Israel, including bans on settlement imports and travel restrictions for certain Israeli officials. Netanyahu lashed out at Belgium’s leadership, accusing it of "sacrificing Israel to appease Islamic terrorism." Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in Gaza as "man-made famine in the 21st century," expressing outrage over Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Israeli airstrikes as "disproportionate," while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto demanded explanations for incidents near UN positions in southern Lebanon.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who sent Ribera to Brussels, has been a vocal critic of both Israel and Europe’s response. In June, Sánchez accused Israel of genocide and blasted Europe for what he called "one of the darkest chapters in international relations in the 21st century." He argued that Europe applies double standards to Israel compared to Ukraine, undermining its influence and credibility.
The diplomatic isolation facing Israel is not confined to Europe. Turkey has severed official ties, closed its airspace to Israeli flights, and accused Israel of trying to make Gaza uninhabitable. The UAE has warned that any Israeli annexation of the West Bank would undermine the Abraham Accords, agreements that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime supporter of Israel, told the Daily Caller that while Israel may be winning militarily, it is "not winning in the public arena—and it is hurting them." Trump noted that Israel’s congressional lobby, once the strongest he had seen, has weakened over the past 15 to 20 years.
Amid these swirling controversies, the world’s largest academic association of genocide scholars passed a resolution affirming that the legal criteria for genocide have been met in Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the statement "disgraceful." The debate now rages not only in diplomatic circles but also in academia, civil society, and the streets of Europe’s cities, where protests demanding a ceasefire and accountability continue to mount.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and diplomatic tensions escalate, Ribera’s words have thrust the European Union’s divisions into stark relief. The question now is whether her unprecedented accusation will spur meaningful action—or simply add another layer to Europe’s fractured response to one of the most pressing conflicts of our time.