EU staff criticize bloc’s response to Gaza crisis
A group representing thousands of European Union officials has accused the bloc’s leadership of failing to take meaningful action in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, media outlets reported. Marking one year since their initial appeal, the group reiterated its concern that EU inaction has enabled the continuation of Israel’s military operations.
The group, known as EU Staff for Peace, includes more than 2,000 personnel from the European Commission, European Parliament, and various EU agencies. In a renewed letter sent this week to the presidents of the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament, the group said the EU has not used its political or economic influence to address the crisis.
The letter claims that the EU has taken “little or no meaningful action” over the past year and suggests that this inaction contributed to “an environment of unaccountability” that allowed for the escalation of the conflict in Gaza. The staff group also argued that the EU’s slow response has come “devastatingly late” for those affected by the conflict, particularly amid a worsening humanitarian situation and limited access to aid.
Their renewed appeal follows a recent announcement by the EU’s foreign policy office that it will initiate a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The agreement, signed in 2000, forms the basis of EU-Israel relations, including trade cooperation and participation in EU-funded research. While full suspension requires unanimity among all 27 member states, individual provisions can be frozen by a qualified majority.
The staff group welcomed the review but expressed concern about the timing and effectiveness of the decision, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in Gaza. Recent reports have highlighted growing concerns over child malnutrition and shortages of basic supplies due to continued restrictions on humanitarian aid.
The group continues to hold weekly rallies in Brussels outside key EU institutions, calling for an urgent reassessment of EU policy toward the conflict and for a more active role in promoting peace in the Middle East. The European Commission has not issued an official response, though EU leadership has recently acknowledged the severity of the crisis and called for a ceasefire and humanitarian access.
