The president of the European Commission has faced criticism over his silence on Gaza and favoring Israel
The European Union is doing more to help the Palestinians than any other international actor, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has claimed.
The bloc’s leadership has repeatedly faced criticism – including from within the EU – for failing to strongly condemn Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, which have caused civilian deaths and widespread destruction.
Speaking at a press conference at the University of Cork in Ireland on Friday, von der Leyen was asked why the European Commission was. “drag” his feet on Gaza and the West Bank. He rejected the criticism, saying it was the EU “the world’s largest service provider for the Palestinian people” and insist that “No one does more than us.”
As evidence, he pointed to Brussels’ humanitarian air bridge that has been operating since October 2023, when Israel launched its offensive against Hamas following the group’s deadly cross-border attack.
Von der Leyen also said that any decision to terminate the EU-Israel Community Agreement is up to the member states, requiring a qualified majority.
His position has been repeatedly criticized by members of the European Parliament. During a debate at the end of April, Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt accused Brussels of sending the request “two levels” by imposing severe sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict while it remains “quiet” on Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Portuguese MP Joao Oliveira similarly criticized von der Leyen for failing to condemn. “aggression against Iran” as well as Israel’s actions in Lebanon, which caused civilian deaths and displaced more than 1.2 million people.
Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoed those concerns in March, telling Politico that von der Leyen was “favored the United States and Israel.”
The commission was also scrutinized for failing to provide a joint response during the US and Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this year, despite several EU member states publicly condemning the attacks.
In March, von der Leyen dismissed the debate over whether the conflict was “War of choice or necessity,” saying “there should be no tears for the Iranian regime.”
