European leaders met at a summit in Brussels and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, urging both Israel and Hamas to end the ongoing six-month conflict. Germany played a key role in removing its opposition to a tougher version of the ceasefire, which was supported by other pro-Israel countries like Austria and Hungary. This shift puts more pressure on Israel, especially with the possibility of a military operation in Rafah looming.
The joint European announcement highlighted the importance of UNRWA’s work in Gaza, despite Israeli demands to dismantle the organization. The message also emphasized the need for avoiding invading Rafah, releasing Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and increasing humanitarian aid to the region. Pro-Palestinian countries in the EU had a separate meeting during the summit to discuss recognizing a Palestinian state unilaterally.
The shift in Europe’s stance towards Israel is mainly due to growing concerns about Israel’s actions in the region and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Many European countries have halted arms exports to Israel, are considering suspending association agreements with the country, and non-governmental organizations are calling for an end to European funding of Israeli defense companies involved in drone development.
In Scandinavia and Nordic countries, Israel faces an even more challenging situation as The Norwegian Wealth Fund reevaluates its holdings in international and Israeli companies following
