European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, urged Israel to refrain from launching a military operation in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip that borders Egypt. The possibility of an Israeli invasion of Rafah has been looming for months, with over 1.4 million Palestinians taking shelter in the region. Ceasefire talks in Cairo collapsed over the weekend, leading to fears of an imminent Israeli ground assault in Rafah unless a ceasefire deal is brokered. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, called on Israel to renounce its plans, emphasizing the need for the EU to act to prevent a potential escalation of violence.
The European Union has struggled to reach a united response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with some member states advocating for a tougher stance on Israel and others hesitant to undermine the bloc’s solidarity with Israel. Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from proceeding with the invasion of Rafah, with US President Joe Biden expected to speak to Netanyahu to urge restraint. Belgian Prime Minister De Croo has been pushing for trade curbs on products from territories occupied by Israel, with proposals to ban the import of Israeli products made in settlements. The Belgian government also announced plans for further sanctions against Israel in response to the escalating situation in Gaza.
Efforts to dissuade Israel from invading Rafah come amid concerns over the potential consequences for the civilian population in Gaza. Reacting to the possibility of an Israeli invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that such actions would be unacceptable and that the EU would take action in response. Some EU member states, such as Spain and Ireland, have called for urgent reviews of the EU-Israel ‘Association Agreement’ and have expressed intentions to progress toward recognizing the State of Palestine. Calls for stricter enforcement of labeling rules for Israeli products made in settlements, as well as consideration of suspending trade in response to human rights violations, have been met with varying levels of support among EU leaders.
The looming threat of an Israeli invasion of Rafah has prompted urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and protect the civilian population in Gaza. EU leaders have stressed the importance of avoiding military action in Rafah and have called on Israel to exercise restraint. Belgium, as the current holder of the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, has been at the forefront of efforts to push for trade curbs on products from Israeli-occupied territories. The situation highlights divisions within the EU regarding its response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with some member states advocating for a tougher stance on Israel while others prioritize maintaining solidarity with Israel. As tensions continue to rise in the region, international pressure is mounting on Israel to avoid military action in Rafah and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
