If they withstand Donald Trump’s attacks, international courts won’t issue final rulings for years. But for anyone paying attention, there’s little doubt that Israel’s government is committing genocide in Gaza—killing and starving civilians after systematically destroying the territory’s infrastructure. Meanwhile, settlers and the Israeli military violate international and humanitarian law daily in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Those who could stop this genocide and these violations but fail to act are complicit. Sadly, this includes EU leaders and member states, who refuse to sanction Israel despite their legal obligation to do so.
The EU has significant leverage over Israel. It’s Israel’s largest trading partner, main investment collaborator, and a key arms supplier. The 2000 EU-Israel association agreement—the bloc’s most favorable with any third country—grants Israel tariff-free exports, visa-free travel, and access to programs like Horizon and Erasmus.
But Article 2 ties the agreement to Israel’s respect for human rights and international law. Since EU foreign ministers have acknowledged Israel’s violations, suspending the deal isn’t optional—it’s a legal duty. Failing to act would breach the agreement itself.
Despite my efforts as former EU high representative, and despite worsening conditions in Gaza and escalating violations in the West Bank, the EU and most member states have refused to use their leverage.
As a result, the EU has failed for over a year to uphold its principles: human rights, international law, multilateralism, and the two-state solution. This inaction has damaged its global standing, particularly in the Muslim world. The contrast between Europe’s strong response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its passivity on Gaza has fueled Putin’s propaganda, weakening support for Ukraine in developing nations.
By refusing to suspend the association agreement, halt arms sales, ban settlement imports, sanction officials making genocidal statements, enforce ICC arrest warrants, or support sanctioned UN officials, the EU and its members are discrediting themselves. They’re undermining the very international order they claim to defend—all while facing growing global scrutiny.With pressure from Putin in the east and Trump in the west, the EU is isolating itself further by cutting ties with the rest of the world.
EU leaders and member states will likely face accountability in the future for their role in enabling the crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahu’s government. Looking back, Europeans will surely condemn their failure to recognize the ongoing genocide. But right now, the priority is to minimize the damage. The EU must act immediately by imposing sanctions on Israel—this is the only way to pressure Israeli leaders to stop their atrocities.
Josep Borrell served as the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy from 2019 to 2024. He is currently president of the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB).
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