European countries gradually distancing themselves from Israel
Israel has become locked in a diplomatic dispute with Spain and Belgium after the two European countries denounced the regime’s crimes in the Gaza Strip and called for the recognition of the Palestinian state.
The Israeli and Spanish foreign ministers exchanged harsh words and summoned each other’s ambassadors for reprimands as the dispute spiraled on Friday while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo continued a visit to the Middle East.
Speaking in Al-Quds alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Sánchez had said the number of civilians killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza was “unbearable”.
And on Friday, on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, Spain’s leader said Israel was not acting within the limits of humanitarian law. “The indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, [is] completely unacceptable,” he said.
His words, and similar sentiments expressed by De Croo, drew a sharp response from Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister. “We condemn the false claims of the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium which support terrorism,” he wrote on X.
Unacceptable accusations
Spain was taken aback by the Israeli foreign minister’s response, said one Spanish official. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in a statement on Friday night condemned Israel’s “false, misplaced and unacceptable accusations”.
Albares said Israel’s response was “especially serious” because it was aimed at the Spanish prime minister, whose country holds the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, and the leader of Belgium, which takes over the same role on January 1.
At the Rafah crossing, De Croo said Israel’s military operation had to respect international humanitarian law. “The killing of civilians needs to stop now. Way too many people have died,” he said. “The destruction of Gaza is unacceptable. We cannot accept that a society is destroyed in the way it is being destroyed.”
EU countries and G7 members have been divided over how much pressure to put on Israel to rein in its bombardment and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Other allies of Israel have started to adopt a tougher line on the stark human cost of its war in Gaza.
While acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense, David Cameron, the UK’s foreign minister, said in an interview with the BBC on Friday that he had told Israeli officials that “they must abide by international humanitarian law, that the number of casualties are too high”.
‘Settler violence’
Cameron added that the “settler violence” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is “completely unacceptable”, and that those responsible should “be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned”.
Spain has consistently spoken up for Palestinians and Sánchez on Friday called for the EU to formally recognize the state of Palestine.
Switzerland had also expressed strong support for Israel in the beginning.
However, on November 20, the country’s foreign minister announced that Switzerland will continue to support the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigations, including into the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
France, which has generally tried to maintain a balance in its relations with Israel and the Arab world for decades, was swift to draw attention to the indiscriminate nature of Israeli attacks on Gaza, after its initial strong expressions of support.
No reason for killing babies
President Emmanuel Macron openly called for a cease-fire in a BBC interview on Nov. 10, saying there is “no reason” for babies, women and the elderly to be killed, urging Israel to stop its assault.
France has reiterated the importance of a political solution, improving living conditions in Gaza, as well as opposing any plan that would include the re-occupation of Gaza by Israel.
Ireland is also among the other countries who has been strong in their criticism of Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has described the attacks on Gaza as “something approaching revenge,” while Foreign Minister Micheal Martin repeated that the offensive has been disproportionate.
Recognition of Palestinian state
In Norway, a bill passed with overwhelming majority in Parliament “asks the government to be ready to recognize Palestine as an independent state when recognition could have a positive impact on the peace process, without making a final peace accord a condition.”
Since the start of the conflict on October 7, many countries have cut diplomatic ties with Israel or recalled their ambassadors to show their anger at Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, which have claimed the lives of more than 14,500 people in the Palestinian territory.
South American countries of Belize and Bolivia have broken off diplomatic relations with Israel. Back on October 27, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed Israel’s war on Gaza as a “genocide”, saying that what is happening is not a war.
On the early days of the conflict, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro also accused Israel of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians.
“We have witnessed in the past massacres and brutal atrocities against the Palestinian people.” The current situation, he pointed out, is a “new apartheid system” against Palestinians.
Turkey, Colombia, Chile and Honduras have recalled their ambassadors for consultations.
South Africa has also been highly critical of Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
On Tuesday, its MPs passed a motion recommending the Israeli Embassy’s closure until there is a cease-fire and a commitment to negotiations. Earlier this month, South Africa also recalled its diplomats from Israel.
Israel’s crimes in Gaza have also sparked pro-Palestinian protests on a daily basis across the world.