The authors of this brief argue that the EU’s failure to uphold international humanitarian law in Gaza and Lebanon – contrasting sharply with its proclaimed values, commitments and response to Russia’s war against Ukraine – will undermine its efforts to build strategic, long-term partnerships with the rest of the world.
Summary
The EU’s response to Israel’s wars in the Middle East reveals an inconsistency in its approach to international humanitarian law. While the EU swiftly and unequivocally condemned war crimes committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, its reaction to what international courts have now recognised as Israeli war crimes is hesitant and ambiguous.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza becomes ever more unbearable, this equivocal diplomatic stance challenges the EU’s proclaimed commitment to a rules-based international order and raises serious questions about the uniformity of its principles in applying humanitarian law across different geopolitical contexts. The EU’s perceived selective condemnation also risks eroding its diplomatic credibility, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and across the wider Global South.
About the Authors
Wassim Ramadan is a corporate officer in ECDPM’s finance and operations department. He supports the finance team in payroll administration and forecasting.
Sophie Desmidt is the Associate director of ECDPM’s peaceful societies and accountable governance cluster and Head of the Peace, security and resilience workstream. She is also a member of the management team.
Pol Vijverman is a fundraising assistant in ECDPM’s institutional relations and partnerships department.
Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw is the head of the Inclusive governance and accountability workstream.
Jamie Slater is a junior policy officer in ECDPM’s migration and mobility team.
Cecilia D’Alessandro is the deputy workstream head in ECDPM’s sustainable food systems team. She also works as a policy officer in the climate action and green transition team and is the gender focal point for the sustainable African economies and climate action cluster.
Alfonso Medinilla is the head of ECDPM’s climate action and green transition team. He focuses on the geopolitics of the global green transition and renewable energy.
Chloe Teevan is the head of ECDPM’s digital economy and governance team.
Karim Karaki is the head of ECDPM’s economic recovery transformation team.