Europe’s Gaza betrayal has broken the trust of millions of people in the global south

By seemingly giving carte blanche to Israel, the EU has sacrificed hard-won credibility with civil society in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

Israeli soldiers in a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border on Tuesday. EU countries continue to sell arms to the Netanyahu government even after its military’s bombing raids have destroyed entire families, communities, hospitals and universities and killed humanitarian workers delivering emergency food aid to prevent starvation. Photo: AP/Leo Correa

The EU’s failure to hold Israel to account for violations of international law in Gaza has blown a gaping hole through its claims to be a values-based defender of international rules, democracy and human rights. Accusations of double standards have come hard and fast from governments in the global south, with many contrasting Europe’s unequivocal condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with its reluctance to call out Israel’s devastation of Gaza.

“Rarely will anyone soon in the global south listen when western politicians insist on international law,” the Middle East analyst Amro Ali argued recently. This is the kind of observation that causes justifiable concern in Brussels.