European parliament demands urgent action on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

On 11 September the European Parliament adopted a resolution with 305 votes in favor, 151 against, and 122 abstentions, condemning the “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging immediate EU action.

The resolution, led by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, demands an immediate ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and accountability for war crimes, while criticizing Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid. It calls for suspending trade provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and reinstating UNRWA’s full mandate, while reaffirming support for a two-state solution.

The resolution reflects growing EU frustration with the Gaza conflict, set against a dire humanitarian situation that has worsened since October 2023.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis: a deepening tragedy

Since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages, Israel’s military response has devastated Gaza, home to 2.2 million Palestinians.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed, with 80% of the population displaced. Northern Gaza faces a man-made famine, with the UN reporting that 96% of residents experience acute food insecurity due to restricted aid access. Only 20% of required humanitarian supplies enter Gaza, hampered by closed border crossings and damaged infrastructure. Hospitals lack electricity and medical supplies, with 50% of Gaza’s health facilities destroyed. Malnutrition is rampant, with UNICEF noting a 200% rise in child wasting since 2023.

The UN’s OCHA reports that 1.9 million Gazans live in makeshift shelters, facing water shortages and disease outbreaks like polio, exacerbated by Israel’s blockade and military operations.

Parliament’s call to action

The resolution condemns Israel’s aid obstruction, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of engineering famine in Northern Gaza. It demands open border crossings and the restoration of vital infrastructure to deliver food, water, medical supplies, and shelter. MEPs criticized the current aid distribution system as inadequate and urged reinstating UNRWA’s funding and mandate with robust oversight, reversing cuts prompted by Israeli allegations against the agency.

The Parliament also supports EU sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as violent settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, for escalating tensions.

While affirming Israel’s right to self-defense, the resolution denounces its “indiscriminate military action” in Gaza, which has caused “unbearable suffering” for civilians. It equally condemns Hamas’s “barbaric crimes” and use of civilians as human shields, calling for sanctions and the group’s exclusion from Gaza’s governance.

MEPs demand the immediate release of all Israeli hostages and urge the EU to pressure third countries to secure this. The resolution endorses the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants and investigations into war crimes by all parties, emphasizing accountability.

Push for a two-state solution

The Parliament advocates for a demilitarized Gaza under a reformed Palestinian Authority, excluding Hamas, and sees the establishment of a Palestinian state as essential for peace, Israel’s security, and regional stability. It urges EU member states to recognize Palestine and take diplomatic steps before the UN General Assembly to advance the two-state solution, a goal stalled by internal EU divisions, with Germany and Hungary opposing trade suspensions with Israel.

S&D vice-president Yannis Maniatis hailed the resolution as a “red line” against EU complicity in Gaza’s tragedy, demanding an immediate ceasefire and sanctions to hold Netanyahu’s government accountable. S&D spokesperson Nacho Sánchez Amor called it a historic stance against Gaza’s “collective punishment,” urging no more arms or trade with Israel and full support for UNRWA and the ICC.

However, some MEPs from the European People’s Party expressed reservations, citing concerns over undermining Israel’s security.

Sources: European Parliament press release, S&D group press release, UN OCHA, UNICEF, and Gaza health authority reports, edited by g.g.

Caption: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) addresses a ‘State of the Union’ debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 10 September 2025. Many MEPs were dressed in red to express solidarity with the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. EPA/RONALD WITTEK