Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

On Friday, August 8, 2025, tensions between Israel and several European governments sharply increased after Israel’s leadership approved a controversial plan to take over Gaza City and take control of security across the entire Gaza Strip.

This decision, which was made during a meeting of Israel’s top ministers, is being described as a major step toward ending the ongoing war. However, leaders across Europe are warning that such a move could make the already severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza far worse.

European Calls for Israel to Rethink the Plan

European leaders have openly expressed concern over Israel’s latest military strategy. They argue that continuing to expand the military campaign will only lead to more suffering for civilians, further damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, and less chance for peace.

The President of the European Commission said that Israel must “reconsider” its decision immediately. She urged for a complete ceasefire and demanded the release of all hostages held since the October 2023 attacks by Hamas. She described the conditions in which these hostages are being held as “inhumane” and stressed that humanitarian aid should reach Gaza without any delays or blockages.

Another senior European official stated that what is happening in Gaza “looks very much” like genocide, intensifying the criticism of Israel’s actions.

U.K. Pushes for Ceasefire and Palestinian State Recognition

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom also strongly condemned Israel’s decision, calling it “wrong” and urging it to reverse course immediately. He highlighted that every day the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, and people are facing dangerous shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

He said the solution should involve:

• A ceasefire
• A large increase in humanitarian aid deliveries
• The release of all hostages
• A long-term negotiated settlement

The U.K. leader made it clear that Hamas should not have any role in governing Gaza and must be fully disarmed.

Importantly, the U.K. government has already announced that it will recognize Palestine as an independent state in September 2025 at the United Nations General Assembly if Israel fails to take steps to ease the crisis.

France and the Recognition of Palestine

France, another key European power, has also taken a firm stance. In July, the French President declared that France will officially recognize Palestine at the UN in September, becoming the first country among the G7 nations to commit to such a step. This move puts more pressure on Israel, as other countries may follow France’s lead.

Germany Stops Certain Arms Exports to Israel

Germany, which has historically had close ties with Israel because of its responsibility for the Holocaust, made a surprising announcement: it will stop exporting any weapons to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip.

Germany is the second-largest arms supplier to Israel after the United States. While the decision doesn’t block all arms sales, it signals a major policy shift.

The German Chancellor explained that while Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas attacks, the country’s current military push may not help in achieving the main goals — securing a ceasefire, freeing hostages, and preventing Hamas from regaining control.

He also warned Israel against taking steps that could lead to the annexation of the West Bank.

Why This Matters

The statements from the U.K., France, Germany, and the European Union show a clear split between Israel and its traditional allies in Europe. Many European nations have supported Israel in the past, but the growing civilian death toll, worsening humanitarian crisis, and destruction in Gaza have changed the tone of these relationships.

With the UN General Assembly session in September drawing near, the issue of Palestinian state recognition is becoming more central to international diplomacy. If more countries decide to recognize Palestine, it could increase political pressure on Israel to change its military approach.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely severe. People face shortages of food, clean drinking water, medical supplies, and electricity. Many homes and schools have been destroyed, and hospitals are struggling to treat the wounded due to a lack of resources.

International aid agencies have repeatedly called for uninterrupted access to Gaza to deliver life-saving assistance. However, ongoing fighting and security restrictions have slowed the aid process.

Next Steps and Global Reactions

In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on:

• Whether Israel moves forward with the Gaza City takeover
• How European countries act at the UN General Assembly in September
• The response from other global powers, including the United States and countries in the Middle East

The decisions made in this period could shape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years to come.