World leaders react to Israel’s offensive against the city of Gaza

The terrestrial offensive launched by Israel on Tuesday against the city of Gaza intensified international pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Declarations of political leaders, multilateral bodies and civil society entities impose on the Zionist regime a growing diplomatic isolation of the country amid allegations of violations of international law and crimes against humanity.

The European Union asked on Tuesday that Tel Aviv interrupts the northern invasion of the track.

Also read: Israel starts land foray into the city of Gaza and threatens 1 million civilians

The European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni warned that “military intervention will lead to more destruction, more deaths and more displacement” and warned that the operation “will aggravate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and endanger the lives of hostages.”

The head of the bloc diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, must submit on this fourth proposals to raise the pressure on Israel, including new sanctions.

Last week, the committee chairman, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that she will freeze euros in transfers to Israel and will ask for partial suspension of the trade agreement with Tel Aviv.

In Germany, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Berlin that the offensive is “completely the wrong way” and reiterated that any attachment plans for Palestinian territories constitute “violation of international law.”

Asked about the UN report that concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, the chancellor said he will await a decision of the International Court, but classified the facts reported as “extremely worrying.”

For Wadephul, the priority should be to reach a ceasefire, release hostages and ensure humanitarian aid.

Berlin’s statements gain extra weight as Germany is, for historical Holocaust reasons, one of Israel’s most consistent allies in Europe.

Spain became the first country of the so-called “Big Five” of Eurovision to condition its participation in the contest on the exclusion of Israel.

The board of public broadcaster RTVE approved by majority the country’s withdrawal from the 2026 edition, if Tel Aviv is admitted. The decision is added to positions already taken over by the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Ireland and exposes how the war in Gaza also reaches cultural arenas.

In the United Kingdom, civil society has expanded pressure on the prime minister. Amnesty International said the government’s refusal to recognize genocide is “unsustainable” in the face of legal evidence.

The NGO requires the immediate suspension of arms exports to Israel, sanctions against authorities involved in war crimes and the end of trade with settlements.

ActionAid UK reinforced the alert. For the co-executive co-director Hannah Bond, “the UN verdict is unequivocal” and, unless London interrupts the supply of weapons, “the United Kingdom will remain complicit.”

On the Palestinian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated a publication on the X network that Israel is transforming the city of Gaza into “a huge cemetery.”

The statement says that the “failure” of international diplomacy is “suspicious and unjustified” and accuses the Netanyahu government of aiming at the “deliberate target of civilians.” The agency requested an international intervention “exceptional” to stop what it classified as “a great crime” and required continuous delivery of humanitarian aid.

In the Arab countries, a summit held on Monday (15) merely condemned Israeli attacks without adopting concrete measures. The absence of effective actions exposed the difficulty of the region in exercising diplomatic pressure against Tel Aviv, despite the extension of war and the aggravation of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.