The events of October 7th and the subsequent brutal aggression, mass extermination crimes, political strategies, and systematic ethnic cleansing by the Israeli occupation state against the Palestinian people in Gaza have had a sharp reflection across all political, popular, media, and legal platforms in Western Europe. This constitutes a true political earthquake by several standards and will have strategic impacts on the European approach to the Palestinian dossier in both the near and distant future.
These impacts are understood within the context of the longstanding and solid strategic relationship between the state of occupation and Western Europe, at both the continental union level and the national level, to varying degrees. This relationship has its roots in decisions dating back over a hundred years, leading up to the establishment and consolidation of the state, especially given its location within a generally hostile environment. Efforts to ensure the state’s development, stability, and continued strength in the region have been ongoing throughout its 76-year existence.
The state of occupation has become an integral and organic part of the European fabric of life, holding a special status across all dimensions, including social and cultural aspects and other detailed areas. Its strong backing in both official and private media platforms attests to Europe’s view of it as a natural extension of the state of occupation.
Unbounded Support
The evidence of this context is too extensive to enumerate, including special trade agreements and privileges, military support, technological advancements, and the state of occupation’s full-fledged participation in all cultural and sports competitions without interruption or protest. The influence of the Jewish minority in European countries on political decisions and media presence is significant. They can choose to migrate to the state of occupation whenever they wish (under the Jewish Right of Return law), bolstering the state’s demographic fabric and its extensions across all sectors, including the military. This signifies a complete European immersion in the conflict, facing Palestinians head-on.
Conversely, the noticeable increase in support for the justice of the Palestinian cause in various forms is gaining recognition. With the Palestinian and Arab Muslim minorities totaling approximately half a million to seven hundred thousand, and up to 30 million Arabs and Muslims across Europe, the growth of pro-Palestine movements among native European populations is evident, particularly with movements like BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions).
Now, there is a clear formation of two camps: Palestinian and Israeli, within the European context, each with differing influence and significance. This has resulted in a disciplined debate and conflict within the boundaries of the law, manifested in numerous forms, regulated by European laws and the principles of the rule of law.
New Standpoints
What happens in occupied Palestine is, without a doubt, a matter of local European concern, with direct and immediate repercussions. This has been evident during the past hundred days of aggression on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Each camp in the conflict has been feeding its narrative and influence, reflecting its convictions and attempting to break through the other’s space.
The European reaction has both official and popular dimensions, with the distance between them widening, particularly in regards to supporting Palestinian rights.
On the political level, the collective official European stance, both at the level of the European Union and several national governments, most notably Germany, aligns closely with the state of occupation by granting it unconditional rights to self-defense. This was mirrored in the near-unanimous vote in the European Parliament on October 19, 2023, where 500 votes supported the occupation state’s operations, with only 21 against and 24 abstentions.
The stance shifted slightly following the horror of the massacres and other factors, yielding a more nuanced position that recognizes the right to respond while insisting on compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians. Still, there’s no support for stopping the aggression or unconditionally allowing humanitarian aid.
Due to various factors, including the atrocity of the aggression and the European solidarity movement, some European countries have independently distanced themselves from the collective European stance. Countries like Spain, Belgium, and Ireland have adopted different positions. France’s stance has notably evolved from Germany’s absolute political extremities, as seen in the United Nations Security Council vote in favor of the Arab resolution, which was ultimately vetoed by the United States.
Similarly, outside the EU, Norway has made strides, as evidenced by the joint press conference by the Prime Ministers of Spain and Belgium at the Rafah crossing, calling for aid to be allowed through, and the historic vote on November 15 to expel the Israeli ambassador from Dublin, which was met with 55 in favor and 85 against, showing a marked strategic shift.
Fissures in the European Stance
The collective official European position concluded the European Summit last December with the failure to issue a special statement on Palestine, settling for a general mention in the broader statement around discussions on the Middle East. This reflects differences and divergences in opinion, which is in itself a positive development.
In sum, the political outcome has scored points in favor of Palestine, revealing clear fractures in the European political wall that the state of occupation relies upon.
Significantly, grassroots activities across the continent have been directly targeted at politicians, lobbying them, and exerting influence on all levels, from governments to parliaments. Demonstrations, sit-ins, vigils, and activities documented by the European Palestinian Media Center include over 6000 activities in more than 400 European cities across 15 countries, excluding the United Kingdom, within the first 90 days of the aggression, engaging a diverse crowd of different ethnicities, cultures, political backgrounds, and ages. Protests are on the rise, with Spain announcing demonstrations in 67 cities set to coincide on the upcoming Saturday, January 20.
Media Transformation
Protesters, undeterred by any circumstances that might hinder their activism, have initiated campaigns like the one launched by the European Palestinian Council for Political Relations in Brussels, preparing early for the anticipated European Parliament elections in June, urging that Palestine be a central issue for candidates.
On the media front, European outlets have been covering the events in Gaza and reflecting the protests mentioned earlier, increasingly portraying them in a positive and objective light. Furthermore, European media have shifted noticeably closer to the Palestinian narrative. For instance, on December 8, the German newspaper “Süddeutsche Zeitung” published a detailed report on the martyrdom of Dr. Yusuf Jadallah, a German national who, while on vacation in Gaza, died alongside his wife and three children.
Social media and new media platforms have created a revolutionary positive impact in favor of the just cause of Palestine, particularly engaging the younger generation in significant, professional numbers.
The Palestinian narrative has begun to impose itself on Western media; the South African file at The Hague defending the Palestinian people has had a profound impact, dominating media portrayals with authority and distinction. For example, the BBC English page summarized South Africa’s legal case with a simple yet impactful statement: “Israeli officials’ will to destroy Gaza.”
On the legal front, while some parties sought to “legalize” support for the state of occupation and curtail Palestinian solidarity activism, Germany’s decision to issue citizenship laws that require applicants to publicly declare their stance towards the occupation state exemplifies this trend.
In response, pro-Palestine legal activism has taken positive strides, with international legal coalitions joining hundreds of lawyers filing complaints with the International Criminal Court on behalf of the victims’ families. The participation of hundreds of Gazan Palestinians with European citizenship has added a compelling legal dimension to the issue.
The comprehensive case presented by South Africa to the International Court of Justice has provided a reliable reference for the crimes of murder, genocide, ethnic cleansing, destruction, and displacement in Palestine, backed by the presence of prominent legal figures. South Africa’s advocacy has positioned it as a global leader in the legal defense of the Palestinian cause, compelling all parties concerned with the matter to align with its stance.
After 100 days of aggression on Gaza, Europe has witnessed numerous strategic positives in political, legal, populist, and media spheres, with the Palestinian narrative making its way into the collective European conscience. Such outcomes warrant the true investment by the Palestinian people and their supporters in these developments.
