Hadja Lahbib, the crisis management commissioner for Europe, issued a stark warning on Tuesday regarding Israel’s escalating military operations in the Gaza Strip. Lahbib expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that Gaza is teetering on the edge of a humanitarian crisis with aid being blocked, airdrops proving ineffective, and new NGO re-registration rules potentially exacerbating the already dire circumstances. She emphasized that a full Israeli military takeover would result in catastrophic outcomes, including mass casualties, collapsed essential services, and hostages being put at risk.
Recent days have seen a growing chorus of condemnation from EU officials toward Israel’s actions. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera had previously criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ambitions to assert complete control over Gaza as an “unacceptable provocation.”
Israel has been under increasing scrutiny for its military campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza, with a reported death toll of nearly 61,500 individuals since October 2023. The conflict escalated following a violent Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians. Additionally, around 250 individuals were captured by Hamas and other factions and taken into Gaza, prompting retaliatory actions from the Israel Defense Forces.
Lahbib has emerged as a prominent critic within the EU’s College of Commissioners concerning Israel’s offensive in Gaza, previously warning of the potential for a “man-made famine” and advocating for a ceasefire along with unrestricted humanitarian access.
In a notable shift, the European Commission has adopted a more stringent stance toward Israel in recent weeks, with proposals to suspend Israel’s involvement in the Horizon Europe scientific program. Furthermore, certain member states have advocated for targeted sanctions and the suspension of the trade segment of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
