After more than a year of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, divisions among European Union member states have left Brussels largely on the sidelines in efforts to bring the fighting to an end. Now, with the European Commission readying for a transition and ahead of a consequential U.S. presidential election, the EU may find it even harder to make an impact on efforts to end the conflict, which has now spread to southern Lebanon and could end up in a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Back on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out a murderous rampage in southern Israel and abducted more than 200 hostages, the EU was quick to express its solidarity with Israel. Brussels swiftly posted an image of an Israeli flag lighting up a wall of EU headquarters, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flew to the grieving country to offer condolences on behalf of the bloc in person.
The EU leadership and its member states condemned Hamas and sought the immediate release of the hostages, and even when the Israeli military began pounding Gaza, resulting in massive civilian casualties, most of them opposed a cease-fire. On Oct. 25, when the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution calling for a cease-fire, just eight EU member states voted in favor, while four opposed and 15 abstained, in what was seen as tacit support for the Israeli government.