The European Commission president has faced criticism over her silence on Gaza and pro-Israel bias
The European Union does more to support Palestinians than any other international actor, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has claimed.
The bloc’s leadership has repeatedly faced criticism – including from within the EU – for failing to forcefully condemn Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, which have caused widespread civilian casualties and destruction.
Speaking at a press conference at University College Cork in Ireland on Friday, von der Leyen was asked why the European Commission was “dragging” its feet on Gaza and the West Bank. She rejected the criticism, saying the EU is “the world’s largest provider of assistance to the Palestinian people” and insisting that “no one does more than us.”
As evidence, she pointed to the humanitarian air bridge Brussels has operated since October 2023, when Israel launched its offensive against Hamas following the group’s deadly cross-border attack.
Von der Leyen also said any decision to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement rests with member states, requiring a qualified majority vote.
Her position has drawn repeated criticism from lawmakers in the European Parliament. During a debate in late April, Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt accused Brussels of applying “double standards” by imposing sweeping sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict while remaining “silent” on Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
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