The Gaza war has had significant effects on some major European Union member countries and institutions, disrupting EU–Israel relations and EU–Palestine relations. Despite unanimous condemnation of the October 7 attacks, Israel's actions in Gaza since then have been increasingly criticised by EU members, with Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain being the most vocal of these countries. Conversely, member states such Germany and Hungary has continued to maintain close ties to Israel.
Background
Timeline Initial reactions from EU member states : President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she "unequivocally" condemned "the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel", calling it "terrorism in its most despicable form" and saying "Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks". EU ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev condemned the attack. Israeli flags were raised outside the headquarters of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Brussels, while the latter's president Roberta Metsola led a vigil in the chamber on 11 October to commemorate the Israeli victims of the attack which also featured a minute's silence and a rendition of the Israeli national anthem. The European Council issued a joint statement of 15 October, condemning "in the strongest possible terms" Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks. : Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced the suspension of the delivery of 19 million euros ($20 million) of aid to Palestinian areas on 9 October in response to Hamas' attack and said that it would review its existing projects in Palestine. He also said that he would summon the Iranian ambassador to address Iran's "abhorrent reactions" to the attack. : Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said on X that the country strongly condemned "the massive rocket attacks against Israeli civilians" and said that their "thoughts are with all those affected". : Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov expressed his country's solidarity with the Israeli people and condemned Hamas's attack. : Prime Minister Andrej Plenković condemned the attacks referring to them as "terrorist acts against civilians" and expressed solidarity with Israel. Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Israel. : President Nikos Christodoulides and the Cypriot embassy in Israel condemned the attacks and stated that Cyprus stood with Israel. : Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the attack, stating his thoughts were "with the innocent victims of the violence" and wishing "our friends in Israel the swiftest possible handling of the situation and the fulfilment of their ambitions to live in peace and security."Deputy minister: We support Israel in defending itself against attack Fiala participated in pro-Israel demonstrations in Prague and called the country "the voice of Israel in Europe." : Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen strongly condemned the attack against Israel, adding that his thoughts were "with the victims, their families and all of Israel". : Marko Mihkelson, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, strongly condemned the attacks against Israel, saying he was "concerned about the expansion of terrorist activity in the region". He invited international organisations to "confront the attempts of terrorist regimes to create instability and chaos in the whole Middle East region." : Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen condemned in the strongest terms the "terrorist rocket attacks targeting Israel". : President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the attack and expressed his "full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones". The French embassy in Israel condemned the attacks and described Hamas' actions as "inadmissible terrorist attacks". : Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was deeply shocked by the "terrifying news" of "rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence". He also said that Germany condemned Hamas' attack and would stand by Israel." Germany suspended €125 million ($131 million) of development aid to Palestine in response to Hamas' attack and said it would review other projects and aid given. Scholz offered military aid to Israel, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Arabs living in Germany to distance themselves from Hamas. : Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis strongly condemned the terrorist attack against Israel, that caused a high number of casualties among civilians. He also expressed his full support for the people of Israel and its right to self-defense. Migration minister Dimitris Keridis expressed his concerns of a resurgence in illegal immigrants to southern Europe, saying that the attack would "not ease illegal migration". : Prime Minister Viktor Orbán strongly condemned the attack against Israel, and stated that he unequivocally supported Israel's right to self-defence. He also expressed his "sympathy and condolences" to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that "our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel in these dark hours".We Will Never Permit Pro-Terror Demonstrations, says Viktor Orbán : Taoiseach Leo Varadkar strongly condemned Hamas' attacks against Israel, calling them "appalling" and expressed that Ireland unequivocally condemned attacks on civilians. Tánaiste, Foreign Minister and Defence Minister Micheál Martin further condemned Hamas' "unconscionable" attacks, expressing that "deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified". They called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities. President Michael D. Higgins subsequently issued a statement condemning the attacks as "deeply reprehensible" and expressed his support for Israel's right to defend itself. : Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on Israel; saying that "people's lives, the security of the region and the resumption of any political process are at risk." He also urged Hamas to "immediately stop this barbaric violence" and said that Italy supports "Israel's right to exist and defend itself". The Prime Minister's office released a statement saying that the government was "closely following the brutal attack taking place in Israel" and condemned "in the strongest terms the ongoing terror and violence against innocent civilians" It also said it supported "Israel's right to defend itself." : President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed his country's "unwavering support to Israel's legitimate right to defend itself against terrorists". Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields. : President Gitanas Nausėda said that the country unequivocally condemned Hamas attacks against civilians in Israel and said the country fully supported "Israel in these terrible hours", and expressed "condolences to the families of the victims". He also said that "Israel has the right to defend itself." The Seimas unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Hamas' attacks. : Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn condemned Hamas's attack, and underlined the need for a renewed international commitment to a two-state solution. called on the United Nations Security Council to hold a meeting regarding the conflict. : Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the attack by Hamas on Israel and "told him that the Netherlands unequivocally condemns this terrorist violence and fully supports Israel's right to defend itself". : Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau condemned "in the strongest terms the ongoing attacks by Hamas against Israel". : President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António Costa condemned Hamas's attacks as "unacceptable" and deserving of "strong condemnation". : President Klaus Iohannis strongly condemned the attack against Israel, adding that the country stood "in full solidarity with Israel in these terrible moments." : Defence Minister Martin Sklenár condemned the Hamas attacks in the "strongest terms" and supported Israel's right to self-defense. : Prime Minister Robert Golob condemned the attacks against Israel. : Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez strongly condemned what he called terrorism and demanded the immediate cessation of indiscriminate violence against the civilian population, likewise affirming Spain's standing commitment to regional stability. Deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop what she called a massacre in Gaza, while Minister of Social Rights Ione Belarra accused the EU and the US of "being complicit in Israel's war crimes" and called for Israel to be denounced before the International Criminal Court because of what she identified as ongoing "planned genocide" in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian peoples. In November 2023, Sanchez criticized Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and called for an "immediate ceasefire". He promised to "work in Europe and in Spain to recognise the Palestinian state". : Foreign Minister Tobias Billström condemned the attack against Israel, and said the government stood in solidarity with all civilians hurt by the attackers.
Initial reactions from European parties
On the day of the attack, General Secretary of the European People's Party Antonio López-Istúriz White and Vice President of the European People's Party David McAllister issued a statement strongly condemning "the heinous attack launched against Israel by Hamas terrorists". On 8 November, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Iratxe García stressed the importance of putting an end to "Netanyahu's collective punishment of Gaza's people". On 2 December, the European Greens condemned "the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas", but pointed that the civilian cost of the current conflict [in Israel and Gaza] is "unacceptable" and called on Israel to respect international law while defending themselves.
Development Numerous members of the European Union have gone to Israel for consultations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola arrived in Israel on 13 October.
On 17 October, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Israel to express solidarity with the country. On his departure from Ben-Gurion airport, he was evacuated to a shelter after a rocket alarm went off.
On 21 October 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Israel to express solidarity with the country. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Israel on 24 October. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrived in Israel on 25 October. During the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, after Israel had launched the invasion of the Gaza Strip the month before, Netanyahu was asked to respect international law, and Sánchez announced that Spain is ready to recognize the State of Palestine. They held a press conference at the Rafah border crossing, emphasizing the importance of Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law. This triggered a harsh reaction from Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen, who subsequently accused both prime ministers of "giving support to terrorism" in Israel.