A group of 206 former ambassadors and senior officials from the European Union have called on Brussels to take tougher measures against Israel, according to Ireland’s public broadcaster.
The appeal reflects mounting international frustration with the Israeli government’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.
The signatories urged the EU to move beyond statements of concern and adopt concrete actions, as calls grow louder across Europe and beyond for a firmer stance toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing administration.
The pressure coincides with sharp criticism from the United States. Robert Arlett, a political adviser within the U.S. Republican Party, said Washington is increasingly alarmed by Netanyahu’s policies, citing reports that he told U.S. officials the war in Gaza “could last for decades.”
“President Trump is focused on U.S.-Israeli agreements, but there is a pressing need to stop the bloodshed and end the war,” Arlett told Al-Qahera News. He stressed that Trump would continue to pressure Netanyahu, particularly over violence in the West Bank, while cautioning that “U.S. patience may wear thin” if Israel pursues unilateral expansion.
In Europe, divisions remain evident. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday that Berlin would not join current initiatives to recognize a Palestinian state, even as other European voices demand stronger recognition of Palestinian rights.
Arlett concluded that Washington seeks a “comprehensive political solution” to the Palestinian issue, distinguishing between the Palestinian people and Hamas, and emphasized that the ultimate goal is “a fair and lasting peace in the region.”