For the first time in the history of the European Commission, a senior official has publicly described Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza as genocide. On September 4, 2025, Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President, made the declaration during the opening ceremony of the academic year at Sciences Po university in Paris. Her words marked a significant escalation in European discourse over Israel’s actions in Gaza and have sent shockwaves through diplomatic and academic circles alike.
“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,” Ribera said, according to Al Jazeera and multiple international outlets. The statement is notable not only for its directness but also because Ribera holds the second-highest office in the Commission, subordinate only to President Ursula von der Leyen. Her portfolio, which includes climate and anti-trust issues, does not extend to foreign policy, yet her words have thrust her—and the European Commission—into the heart of one of the world’s most contentious debates.
Ribera’s remarks are a marked departure from her previous public statements. In August 2025, she had suggested that Israel’s actions “look very much like genocide,” but she stopped short of an official accusation. This week’s comments, however, leave no room for ambiguity, and for many, they represent a turning point in the European Union’s approach to the conflict.
The reaction from Israel has been swift and dismissive. Israeli leaders have repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide in their war in Gaza. Israel’s mission to the European Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously described similar allegations as “outrageous.” When South Africa brought a case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of genocide, Netanyahu condemned the move in the strongest terms.
The European Commission itself, up until now, had accused Israel of violating human rights in Gaza but had stopped short of using the word genocide. Ribera’s statement, therefore, stands in contrast to the Commission’s official position, and it remains to be seen whether her remarks will prompt a shift in policy or rhetoric from Brussels. The Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, has not commented publicly on Ribera’s declaration.
Ribera’s words also come at a time when the academic and legal communities are intensifying their scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. On Monday, the president of the world’s largest academic association of genocide scholars announced that the association had passed a resolution affirming that the legal criteria have been met to determine that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel’s Foreign Ministry was quick to condemn the scholars’ statement, calling it “disgraceful.”
The war itself, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israeli communities near the Gaza border, has been devastating by any measure. According to Israeli sources, the initial attack killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza—including children. The Israeli government has argued that its subsequent military campaign is a legitimate act of self-defense aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
But the toll on Gaza has been catastrophic. According to Gaza health officials, more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s air and ground war in Gaza since the conflict began. These officials do not specify how many of the dead were fighters, but they have stated that the majority of those killed have been women and children. The scale of the destruction has fueled international outrage and led to widespread protests across European cities, as Ribera referenced in her speech.
The United Nations Security Council has also been vocal, with 14 of its members calling for an immediate ceasefire. Despite this, the violence continues, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows more desperate by the day. The European public has responded with large-scale demonstrations, demanding an end to the bloodshed and greater accountability from their leaders. Ribera’s comments reflect this mounting pressure and the sense of frustration among many Europeans that their governments are failing to respond adequately to the crisis.
Ribera’s decision to use the term genocide is significant not just for its moral weight but for its potential legal implications. Under international law, genocide is defined as acts committed with “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” The charge carries with it the possibility of international prosecution and severe diplomatic consequences. While South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice remains ongoing, Ribera’s statement may embolden other governments and organizations to adopt similar language.
The debate over whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide is far from settled. Israel and its supporters insist that the military campaign is a response to unprovoked aggression by Hamas and argue that the loss of civilian life, while tragic, is an unavoidable consequence of urban warfare against a group that embeds itself among the population. Critics, however, point to the scale of the destruction, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the high proportion of women and children among the dead as evidence of intent to destroy the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Within Europe, Ribera’s comments have exposed deep divisions. Some policymakers and citizens argue that the EU must take a stronger stand in defense of human rights and international law. Others warn that such rhetoric risks alienating Israel, a key partner in the region, and undermining Europe’s credibility as a mediator. The fact that the European Commission itself has not adopted Ribera’s language underscores the complexity and sensitivity of the issue.
For now, Ribera’s statement stands as a stark reminder of the growing sense of urgency and moral reckoning in Europe regarding the war in Gaza. Whether her words will lead to concrete policy changes or remain a symbolic gesture is unclear. What is certain is that the debate over Europe’s role—and responsibility—in the conflict is far from over.
As the war grinds on and the death toll rises, the world will be watching to see whether Europe can, as Ribera put it, “act and speak with one voice,” or whether divisions within the bloc will continue to hamper its response to one of the most pressing humanitarian crises of our time.
