Over 200 former EU ambassadors and senior officials accused Brussels of inaction over Gaza, signing a joint letter urging the bloc to step up pressure on Israel to halt its “brutal war” and occupation.
In the letter, seen by Irish broadcaster RTE News, the signatories voiced “profound disappointment” that the EU has taken no real steps to press Israel into ending its offensive, resuming vital humanitarian aid, or dismantling its occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
They warned that without a firm EU stance, responsibility will fall to individual states or small alliances, diluting the weight of a united EU response.
The officials also expressed “dismay” that, four weeks after an earlier appeal by 58 former EU ambassadors, no cease-fire has been reached. Instead, Israel has started moves to evacuate Gaza City.
The letter denounced Israeli plans to expand settlements in East Jerusalem, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the two-state solution, widely supported by the UN and EU.
Citing a 22 August report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), they highlighted that a “man-made famine” now grips parts of Gaza, leaving half a million people facing starvation and death.
The appeal was addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and the leaders and foreign ministers of the 27 member states.
