MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Gaza at the breaking point: EU action to combat famine and the urgent need to release the hostages and to move towards a two-state solution
8.9.2025 - (2025/2852(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 136(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Iratxe García Pérez, Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor
on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B10-0372/2025
B10‑0372/2025
European Parliament resolution on Gaza at the breaking point: EU action to combat famine and the urgent need to release the hostages and to move towards a two-state solution
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the Middle East Peace Process,
– having regard to the report of 22 August 2025 by the Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, confirming that a man-made famine exists in Gaza, with half a million people there facing starvation,
– having regard to the Gaza Recovery and Reconstruction Plan adopted at the summit of the League of Arab States in Cairo on 4 March 2025,
– having regard to the UN General Assembly Resolution of 10 May 2024 determining ‘that the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations and should therefore be admitted to membership in the United Nations’,
– having regard to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri for war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks,
– having regard to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 19 July 2024 stating that Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and that all States are under an obligation not to recognise the legal situation arising from the occupation, and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the occupation, including the settlements,
– having regard to Case 192 before the ICJ, Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v Israel), and to the Court’s order of 26 January 2024 and to its subsequent rulings on provisional measures,
– having regard to the resolution adopted on 1 September 2025 by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, declaring that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide as set out in the 1948 UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,
– having regard to Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement[1] stating that EU-Israel relations ‘shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles’;
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 26 June 2025 calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza,
– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a decades-long record of occupation, recurrent disregard for international law and UN resolutions, and repeated cycles of violence and terrorist attacks;
B. whereas since the despicable attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023 – where 1 200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage – an estimated 48 hostages remain held in Gaza, and of those, 20 are believed to still be alive;
C. whereas since the beginning of the disproportionate military response in Gaza by the Israeli Government, more than 63 000 Palestinians have been killed and over 15 000 injured, and according to UNICEF over 17 000 children have been killed there;
D. whereas the displacement of Palestinians within the Gaza Strip remains massive, with around 90 % of Gaza’s 2.1 million population estimated to have been forcibly relocated from their residences and about 92 % of all housing units destroyed or damaged;
E. whereas the Israeli Government has begun implementing plans to empty Gaza City and its environs of one million Palestinians by forcing them to relocate into overcrowded designated zones in southern Gaza, raising fears of large-scale deportation;
F. whereas the Israeli Government has continued to prevent the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and 100 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from delivering aid since 2 March 2025, while obstructing deliveries by other experienced providers and prioritising the militarisation of aid supplied by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), in violation of UN humanitarian principles; whereas according to the UN nearly 1400 people have been killed in Gaza while trying to acquire food, 859 of them killed in the vicinity of GHF sites; whereas humanitarian aid should never be instrumentalised and should reach civilians in need without obstruction or manipulation, in full respect of international humanitarian law;
G. whereas since the ongoing military operations in Gaza began in October 2023 more than 400 humanitarian workers have been killed;
H. whereas international journalists are denied access to Gaza, while over 200 locally based journalists and media workers have been killed, including 11 in recent targeted attacks; whereas according to many sources the war in Gaza is the deadliest-ever conflict for journalists and media workers;
I. whereas Israeli ministers have approved plans to build 3 400 housing units in what the Israeli authorities have designated the ‘E1 area’, thereby cutting off East Jerusalem from the West Bank, with the openly declared aim of sabotaging the long-standing two-state solution supported by the vast majority of UN member states and the EU;
J. whereas settler violence in the West Bank has escalated, leading to deaths, injuries and the destruction of property, including the killing of respected human rights defender Odeh Hathalin;
K. whereas on 2 October 2024, Israel declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres ‘persona non grata’ and barred him from entering the country;
L. whereas on 28 May 2024 Spain, Ireland and Norway, and on 4 June 2024 Slovenia, officially recognised the State of Palestine, while France, the UK, Belgium, Malta, Australia and Canada have announced their intention to recognise it at the UN General Assembly in September;
M. whereas the EU legal order contains several types of leverage that can be mobilised to ensure full compliance with its values and regulations, notably in its agreements with non-EU countries;
N. whereas for months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis, led by the families of the hostages, have been protesting against the Israeli Government, clearly showing that the majority of Israeli citizens want an end to the war, accusing Prime Minister Netanyahu of undermining democratic principles and prolonging the war in Gaza for political gain, thereby endangering the lives of hostages still held by Hamas;
O. whereas as a result of the extremist coalition government in Israel, the rule of law in the country has been severely undermined;
P. whereas in recent months spontaneous protests have broken out across Gaza against Hamas’s brutal and reckless leadership and its hijacking of aid at the expense of Gaza’s civilian population;
Q. whereas on 6 February 2025 US President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14203 imposing sanctions on the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan; whereas on 9 July 2025 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories; whereas the US also imposed sanctions on 6 June 2025 on four ICC judges, including Judge Beti Hohler (Slovenia), and on 20 August 2025 on a further two ICC judges and two ICC deputy prosecutors, including Judge Nicolas Guillou (France); whereas on 29 August 2025 the US administration announced its decision to deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority – including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly;
R. whereas the call on the Commission by Slovenia and Belgium for the EU’s blocking statute to be invoked in response to the recent US sanctions against two ICC judges and EU citizens remains unanswered;
Situation in Gaza and in the West Bank
1. Strongly condemns the continuous escalation of war in Gaza caused by the Israeli military operations, which has led to devastating humanitarian consequences and unacceptable suffering for the civilian population, particularly children, who are bearing the heaviest burden of this war; equally condemns Hamas’s deliberate abuse of civilian infrastructure and population as human shields;
2. Considers that the situation can no longer be regarded as a mere emergency and highlights the clear evidence that a genocide is being committed in Gaza; highlights the cruelty applied in the unrestrained and indiscriminate actions by the Israeli Government, which have led to an unprecedented number of civilian casualties and the destruction of the material and moral fabric of Palestinian life in the Gaza Strip; recalls the forced displacement of nearly 90 % of Gaza’s population;
3. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the brutal killing of over 1 200 people; expresses its unwavering solidarity with the estimated 20 hostages believed to still be alive in captivity, and with their families; insists that Hamas immediately and unconditionally release all remaining hostages; calls on the international community and the Government of Israel to make the release and safe return of all hostages, as well as the end of the war, the central objective of all negotiations;
4. Calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire under UN supervision and for the end of all military operations in Gaza, as a precondition for humanitarian relief and political progress;
5. Considers it fundamental to carry out a full investigation into alleged war crimes and violations of international law, and for the Israeli political and military authorities to be held to account;
6. Refuses the annexation plan for Gaza and the approval of the E1 settlement project in the West Bank, which represent a de facto annexation of Palestinian territory; recalls that these actions amount to war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the ICC, including the forcible transfer of protected persons, collective punishment, destruction of civilian property and basic infrastructure, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war;
7. Strongly opposes the current aid distribution system in Gaza and the privatisation of humanitarian assistance, which has reduced the aid distribution points from 400 to 8 and sidelined the UN; stresses that this system fails to respect international humanitarian law and weaponises aid; is appalled by reports indicating the killing of hundreds of civilians, including children, seeking food and assistance, particularly near GHF sites with the involvement of US mercenaries; considers it of the utmost urgency to guarantee unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza and to reinstate UNRWA’s full mandate and funding;
8. Is particularly alarmed by the report issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, backed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and UNICEF, issuing a critical alert on famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths in Gaza;
9. Firmly expresses outrage at the killing of more than 350 UNRWA staff and condemns the Israeli authorities’ unilateral October 2024 decision to ban UNRWA, which constitutes an unprecedented ban against UN agencies; expresses its condemnation over the demolition of EU and Member State-funded structures throughout the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories; is extremely concerned that nearly 660 000 children remain out of school in Gaza, with 90 % of Gaza’s schools either destroyed or severely damaged, according to a recent UNRWA report;
10. Voices profound concern regarding the persistent attempts by settlers, extremists and even members of the Israeli Government to undermine the ‘Status Quo’ agreement governing Jerusalem’s holy sites;
11. Supports the actions and campaigns advanced by civil society organisations and activists aimed at promoting concrete efforts to end the man-made famine in Gaza and to stop the crimes being committed there;
12. Expresses solidarity with the democratic forces and civil society in Israel, who for months have expressed opposition to the continuation of the war and concern about the situation of the remaining hostages, and the gradual erosion of the rule of law in Israel; expresses its profound concern regarding proposals by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir seeking to restrict the right to protest;
13. Is concerned about the bill under consideration in the Knesset imposing unfair taxation on donations from foreign governments to Israeli civil society organisations and seeking to restrict the ability of NGOs to petition Israeli courts, in a crackdown on civil society similar to those undertaken by authoritarian regimes; reiterates its unwavering support for the Palestinian and Israeli women’s organisations engaged in grassroots peacebuilding initiatives;
EU action
14. Strongly deplores the fact that the Commission and the European Council have so far failed to react with the urgency that the gravity of the catastrophic situation in Gaza demands;
15. Invites the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to reflect on the profound consequences for the EU’s global image caused by the absence of an objective response to the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and by the perception of a double standard in the EU’s diplomatic action; stresses that this situation is destroying the EU’s credibility not only in the eyes of the Global South but also in the eyes of our citizens;
16. Recalls that the European External Action Service (EEAS) has concluded that the Israeli Government is in clear breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; regrets that the Agreement remains in force and that no other measures have been introduced so far; considers it imperative to immediately suspend the Agreement; notes the June 2025 EEAS review finding indications of a breach and calls on the VP/HR to table suspension options without delay; urges the EU to ban all trade and business with Israel’s illegal settlements, in compliance with their obligation under international law, as also outlined by the ICJ;
17. Recalls that the Commission has the power to immediately and directly implement several measures and actions, and urges in particular the strict enforcement of current labelling rules for products from illegal Israeli settlements, and, under its competence as programme manager, freeze or withhold participation in research programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe grants) where an Israeli contractor breaches ethical rules or contractual obligations; is dismayed to see that the Commission is not able to adopt these minimal actions in response to the current situation;
18. Calls on the Council to suspend the funding of national co-financed projects involving Israeli entities and withdraw from joint research agreements with Israeli institutions and research bodies, including under Horizon Europe, in cases where the projects in question are linked to military operations, while ensuring that independent academics and critical voices within universities are not penalised for the actions of the current Israeli Government;
19. Calls on the Member States to ban port calls or the use of airspace by Israeli military vessels and aircraft, as well as transit stops for any vessels or aircraft transporting military equipment and munitions to Israel, where it cannot be excluded that such equipment is used in violation of international and humanitarian law;
20. Invites the VP/HR and the Commission to propose to the Member States the suspension of the sale, transfer and delivery of arms to the State of Israel under national export control laws, including for dual-use equipment and technology, in compliance with Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP[2] on arms exports and the UN Arms Trade Treaty, in order to prevent such arms from being used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law; praises those Member States that have already introduced measures in this regard;
21. Supports the extension of sanctions and calls for targeted EU restrictive measures, including asset freezes and visa bans through the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, to individuals and entities directly involved in the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territories, and severe breaches of international law, including extremist ministers openly calling for genocidal actions or acting against the two-state solution;
22. Calls on the Member States to fully implement the arrest warrants issued by the ICC, in accordance with national legislation implementing the Rome Statute and in the light of their binding obligation to cooperate, and to reaffirm their political and financial support for the ICC;
23. Urges the Commission to activate the blocking statute to protect European operators from the effects of US sanctions and to help ensure that the ICC’s work can continue unaffected; urges the EU and its Member States to take any other diplomatic and practical steps to defend the Court and those cooperating with it, in line with the EU Member States’ legally binding commitments to promote the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute;
24. Proposes the creation of a Gaza facility, through a dedicated funding instrument and long-term budgetary support enabling a permanent and predictable EU commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction;
25. Expresses disapproval over the lack of accountability and transparency in monitoring the humanitarian aid agreement between the EU and Israel announced in June 2025, which was aimed at alleviating the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza;
26. Condemns the killing of journalists and demands access for international media to Gaza; supports an independent, international investigation into the attacks on media workers, in line with the EEAS statement of 26 August 2025 and findings by Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists;
27. Calls for urgent EU actions to deter settler violence, including the protection of Palestinian communities, and for monitoring and reporting by the EU Delegation to Israel on water-infrastructure attacks and mass displacements;
Peace process, recognition of Palestinian State and future of Gaza
28. Affirms that the establishment of a Palestinian State represents a key instrument for advancing peace and enhancing the security of the State of Israel; underscores that this constitutes the most effective diplomatic pathway towards regional normalisation and the achievement of lasting peace;
29. Strongly invites the Member States to support the recognition of Palestine as a democratic and sovereign state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, coexisting in peace, security and prosperity alongside the State of Israel, with full respect and equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians;
30. Insists that a concrete roadmap for implementing the two-state solution must be the central focus of the Commission’s Middle East strategy, planned for 2026;
31. Expresses deep concern over the unprecedented decision of the United States to deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority – including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly;
32. Calls on the Member States, the VP/HR and the President of the European Council to take all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the EU’s commitment to a two-state solution, with concrete political progress towards its realisation, ahead of the UN General Assembly in September and in line with the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution of 4 August 2025;
33. Praises and supports the efforts, notably by the Arab League, Egypt and Qatar, to swiftly bring the parties back to a ceasefire agreement, with a view to achieving a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all hostages, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza;
34. Fully supports the Recovery and Reconstruction Plan endorsed during the Arab League summit of March 2025 for the reconstruction and future administration of Gaza, as well as the recent initiatives of civil society organisations and business communities in support of this goal;
35. Reaffirms its support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that such efforts are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace;
36. Reiterates its firm belief that there must be no future for a Hamas presence in the Gaza Strip and demands that all its weapons be handed over to the Palestinian Authority; insists that full responsibility for law enforcement and security throughout all Palestinian territory must lie exclusively with the Palestinian Authority, supported as necessary by the international community;
37. Invites the Member States to fully support the establishment of a transitional administrative committee in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority, with the primary task of ensuring reconstruction as soon as a ceasefire is reached;
38. Invites the Member States to consider the deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission, upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority and under UN principles, building on current UN capacities and mandated by the UN Security Council, with appropriate regional and international support;
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39. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian Authority.
- [1] Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part (OJ L 147, 21.6.2000, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2000/384/oj).
- [2] Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment (OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/compos/2008/944/oj).