A senior official in the European Commission has said Israel’s war on Gaza strongly resembles a genocide, as Palestinians face mass killings, starvation, and deliberate targeting.
Speaking to Politico on Thursday, European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, citing widespread destruction and the deliberate denial of aid to civilians.
“What we are seeing is a concrete population being targeted, killed and condemned to starve to death,” she said.
She described the complete destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including homes, water networks, hospitals, and food supply lines, as deliberate and systematic.
“A concrete population is confined, with no homes — being destroyed — no food, water or medicines — being forbidden to access — and subject to bombing and shooting even when they are trying to get humanitarian aid,” Ribera said.
She added: “Any humanity is absent, and no witnesses are allowed.”
Ribera stopped short of directly calling it genocide, but said: “If it is not genocide, it looks very much like the definition used to express its meaning.”
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Her comments come amid growing concerns across Europe over the scale of Israel’s attacks in Gaza, and the mounting civilian death toll.
Ribera is the most senior EU official so far to publicly describe Israel’s conduct in terms that closely align with the legal definition of genocide.
She also called for a shift in the European Union’s political stance, saying the bloc should no longer shy away from action due to internal divisions.
“Consensus is not always about unanimity in enthusiasm,” she said.
Ribera added: “Sometimes, it means finding room to move forward while acknowledging the concerns of those who feel cornered.”
She suggested the EU could pursue a “constructive non-objection” approach, allowing measures to go ahead even if some member states abstain.
Among those measures, she proposed the suspension of the EU’s association agreement with Israel, which governs trade, political cooperation and legal commitments.
The agreement requires both sides to respect human rights and democratic principles as a condition for continued partnership.
Ribera’s intervention adds pressure on European leaders who have so far avoided concrete action, despite widespread public protests and legal findings.
She said that if Israel formally reoccupies the Gaza Strip, the international community should consider tougher responses to restore compliance with international law.
“What has been said and done by the Israeli authorities go far beyond the international law limits,” she added.
Ribera warned that the EU risks damaging its credibility if it fails to act.
“We need to show that Europe is not just a set of institutions, but a political and moral project with the courage to respond when human lives are at stake,” she said.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 people since October 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.
Large parts of the territory have been reduced to rubble, with mass displacement, disease and famine affecting nearly the entire population.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide.
In January 2024, the ICJ found the genocide claim to be “plausible” and ordered Israel to prevent further acts of genocide.
It also ordered Tel Aviv to allow immediate humanitarian access and avoid actions that could worsen the crisis.
In March, the court added new measures demanding more aid be allowed in. In May, it ordered Israel to halt its military assault on Rafah.
Israel has ignored all the provisional measures and continues to reject the genocide accusation entirely.
The court’s final ruling could take years, but its interim findings carry legal weight under international law.
Public outrage continues to grow across Europe, with calls for sanctions, arms embargoes and diplomatic pressure intensifying by the week.
Ribera’s statement marks a turning point in EU discourse, signalling that some officials are now prepared to call Israel’s actions by its appropriate terminology.
