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Thirty-four former ambassadors from the European Union have issued an open letter calling for urgent action against Israel over what they describe as “unlawful” and “atrocity crimes” committed in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
In the letter, which was shared on social media on Tuesday, the former diplomats appealed to top EU officials — including the presidents of the European Council, Commission, and Parliament, as well as foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the heads of member states — to take decisive measures or risk undermining the bloc’s credibility.
“While continuing to call unceasingly for the return of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire and an end to the war, the European Union — long a champion of human rights and the rule of law — must act now in the name of international law, humanity, and justice for the Palestinian people,” the letter read. “Otherwise, it risks forfeiting its credibility, influence, and moral standing in the world.”
The signatories condemned what they called a “systematic campaign of brutalisation, dehumanisation, and displacement” by Israel, asserting that atrocity, crimes are being committed “on a daily basis” in Gaza and the West Bank. They accused the EU and most of its member states of failing to respond meaningfully to the scale of the violence.
While welcoming the recent condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza by 28 EU foreign ministers, the former ambassadors stressed that “words are not enough” and that continued “EU inaction” gravely threatens the bloc’s values and commitment to international law.
They also questioned the effectiveness of a recent deal reportedly brokered by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, which aimed to secure humanitarian relief. “The concrete humanitarian measures reportedly agreed have not been made public, nor confirmed by Israeli authorities,” they wrote. “To the contrary, since Ms Kallas’ announcement of 14 July, hundreds of men, women and children have been killed by Israeli forces while desperately seeking food and water.”
The letter outlines several urgent steps the EU should take, including the immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, suspension of arms exports to Israel, and a ban on trade with Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law. It also calls for suspending all commercial arrangements with Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement and implementing targeted sanctions against Israeli officials.
Additionally, the group urged EU support for international judicial mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable, strengthen aid to Palestinians and humanitarian organisations, and formally recognise Palestinian statehood.
“The world will remember how the EU and its member states respond to this catastrophic tragedy,” they concluded. “Silence and neutrality in the face of genocide constitute complicity. Inaction emboldens perpetrators and betrays every principle the Union and its member states claim to uphold.”
