‘Europe Acted Too Late to Address the Gaza Crisis’ – NYU Professor Monica Marks
Against the backdrop of more than 600 days of what many are calling a genocidal war in Gaza, some of Israel's long-standing Western allies are finally beginning to shift their stance — although the change has come too late and remains largely rhetorical.
Changing global public opinion, along with growing domestic criticism of the Netanyahu government’s war policy within Israel, has begun to influence Western media coverage. However, these so-called “changes” are still mostly limited to statements and warnings, with very few tangible actions.
Strong Words, Weak Actions
Over the past two weeks, top leaders from the UK, Canada, and the European Union have sharply criticized Israel for violating international human rights laws. They accuse Israel of blocking the entry of food and medicine into Gaza, which could amount to war crimes.
In response, the UK has suspended free trade agreement talks with Israel, and the EU has announced a reassessment of its existing economic agreements with the country.
Even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—once a staunch supporter of Israel—stated,
“The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza cannot be justified in the name of a war against Hamas.”
Trump-Netanyahu Tensions
The distance between Donald Trump and Netanyahu has also grown in recent months. In February, Trump proposed evacuating Gaza to build a “Riviera-style” resort. Netanyahu responded by launching “Operation Gideon’s Chariot,” claiming he was already executing that very vision.
In reply, Trump stated,
“The U.S. now wants the entire situation to end as quickly as possible.”
Expert Analysis
According to Professor Monica Marks of New York University,
“The Global South condemned Israel’s policies a long time ago. The West is now shifting its position, but it’s too little, too late.”
Clemens Chai, a researcher from Singapore, said,
“Public opinion around the world is changing, but expecting real change based only on altered rhetoric is overly optimistic.”
They noted that the West remains silent on imposing effective sanctions on Israel or supporting arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court.
GHO Controversy and the Politics of Aid
Currently, a U.S.-backed force named GHO is distributing aid in Gaza. However, according to the UN and NGOs, this effort is merely a tool to advance Israel’s political objectives under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
No Change Without the U.S.
Chai stated,
“Without pressure from the United States, Israel will not change its policies.”
He believes Trump is now more focused on establishing ties with Arab allies and exploring possible agreements with Iran—goals that fall outside of Israel’s primary interests.
War Will Continue, Aid Might Slightly Increase
Analyst Guy Burton said that Western pressure may allow some humanitarian aid into Gaza, but it’s unlikely to end the war or shift Netanyahu’s stance.
“If a few aid trucks get in, Western leaders will likely consider that a significant achievement,” he added.
