As former U.S. President Donald Trump promotes his new Middle East peace plan, the European Union faces a complex and divided position. While Washington frames the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as a victory for diplomacy, many European governments remain critical of Israel’s conduct during the Gaza war.
Several EU member states — including France and the United Kingdom — have formally recognised the State of Palestine. European leaders continue to refer to Israel’s military actions in Gaza as potential war crimes or even acts of genocide. Against this backdrop, further EU sanctions against Israel cannot be ruled out in the long term.
At the same time, the EU seeks to play a central role in Gaza’s reconstruction, estimating that around $50 billion will be needed to rebuild infrastructure and restore basic services. Brussels has called this effort a “new beginning” in EU–Israel relations, aiming to balance moral accountability with pragmatic engagement.
A Brussels official said: “Europe has to be more than just a payer. Europe has to play the role of an honest broker as it always has been”.
However, the Union’s divided stance — torn between solidarity with Israel, support for Palestinian statehood, and internal political fragmentation — has limited its influence in shaping the peace process. Many analysts argue that the EU’s role has been largely symbolic rather than strategic, leaving Washington and regional actors to dominate the postwar agenda. The global reporter Constantin Schreiber from the German newspaper “Die Welt” texts critically:
“Never before has our insignificance been so clearly and openly demonstrated as it is now, when world history may be being written in the Middle East, and Europe is only allowed to watch.” [translated by the author into English]
Further details on Politico EU and Die Welt.
