How Gaza changed Europe, exposing cracks that grow bigger by the week
Solidarity with Palestine’s suffering is punished but MEPs allow a witch-hunt of European Muslims
TL;DR
- The war in Gaza has killed over 74,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction, changing global views of Israel and increasing support for Palestine.
- Europe's failure to hold Israel accountable has damaged its global credibility and exposed a double standard in its commitment to human rights, contrasting with its sanctions against Russia.
- European governments have suppressed free expression and peaceful protest concerning Gaza, criminalizing those who speak out for Palestinian rights.
- Societal fractures have worsened, with antisemitism and Islamophobia being framed differently, and the European People's party (EPP) promoting Islamophobic tropes.
- The EPP has passed resolutions that cast suspicion on Muslim civil society groups, potentially leading to a "witch-hunt" of European Muslims.
- Funding has been cut for the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), a key anti-discrimination body.
- Islamophobia is becoming more blatant within EU corridors of power, with officials framing Gaza as a humanitarian emergency rather than a genocide.
- Despite these challenges, there are moments of solidarity, with pro-Palestinian movements growing and former EU officials urging stronger action against Israel.
- The erosion of democratic freedoms begins when some voices are silenced, suffering is ignored, and the rights of some citizens are devalued.