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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to control Gaza caused a fierce international pushback on Friday, with at least one European alliance halting military exports to Israel while on the move.
A wave of condemnation from groups representing European leaders, Arab countries and hostage families shows the expansion of the bay between Netanyahu’s government and much of the world as Israel’s 22-month war against Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has worsened.
Western leaders, traditionally Israeli ally, spoke swiftly to criticize Netanyahu’s growing war.
Germany, a close ally of Israel after World War II, said on Friday it would suspend exports of military equipment available to use in Gaza to Israel. In a statement, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said Israel has the “right to protect itself from Hamas’ fears” but has issued an alarm about a dramatic escalation of Netanyahu’s conflict.
“The even more severe military action by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes these goals more difficult, in the German government’s view,” Mertz said.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said the Israeli government’s plans were “wrong.” He added: “This measure does nothing to end this conflict or help to ensure the release of hostages. It will only bring about more bloodshed.”
Ursula von der Leyen, chairman of the European Union Commission, reiterated the British position, saying that the expanded military operation must be “reconsidered.” She called for the release of all hostages, “immediate and unhindered” humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and a ceasefire.
The Hostage and Missing Family Forum, an organisation representing some of the families of those who were taken prisoner, struck a similar note in a statement overnight, highlighting domestic opposition to the crushing war in Gaza, which has been ruled by Hamas since 2007.
“The minister’s decision to pursue occupation of the Gaza Strip last night means abandoning the hostages, while completely ignoring repeated warnings from military leaders and the clear will of the majority of Israeli people,” the Forum said.
The forum had mentioned growing opposition to war within Israel. In Israel, many citizens are wary of Palestinian civilians who die of malnutrition. Israeli security commander, a group of hundreds of retired Israeli security officials, recently wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to put pressure on Netanyahu to end the war.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, part of the centre-dominated Yesid Party, blasted Netanyahu’s decision as a “disaster,” saying “long months will lead to the death of hostages, killing many soldiers, sacrificing the lengthy sentences for Israeli taxpayers, and causing a diplomatic collapse.”
Israel also faced objections from the Arab chorus on Friday.
Jordan called for efforts to “settle” Jerusalem’s plans to “establish” the “occupying” of Palestinian territory. Egyptian President Abdel Fatta El-Sisi spoke to the president of the Palestinian authorities, highlighting his country’s support for the Palestinians and his opposition to his attempts to drive them away. Both neighbours have reconciled with Israel after years of military conflict.
Saudi Arabia, which has long publicly argued for the cause of the Palestinian state, has said it is “condemning” Netanyahu’s move on “the strongest and most serious conditions.” The kingdom warned that the “continuous failure” of the international community to intervene in Israel’s attacks threatened world peace and “claims disastrous consequences.”
Although Saudi Arabia does not have official diplomatic ties with Israel, Netanyahu was trying to improve relations with the powerful Gulf Kingdom before the Hamas War broke out.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Netanyahu’s plans. Trump has not explicitly criticised Israeli leaders for the proposed escalation of the Gaza War.
President Donald Trump took a rare break with Israel on Monday.
Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel and former Republican governor of Arkansas, said in an interview with CBS News this week that the Israeli government must decide how the war will proceed. “It’s not our job to tell them what they should and shouldn’t,” Huckabee said in part.
In recent weeks, polls have suggested that Americans have become increasingly skeptical of Israel’s military conduct. Americans’ approval of Israeli military action in Gaza reached 32% in a Gallup survey last month. Gallup first questioned respondents in November 2023.
Meanwhile, an Economist/YouGov survey released Tuesday found that several American voters believed Israel’s attack on Gaza was “unjust” and only 27% of respondents have expressed support for Netanyahu.
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas began after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 people hostages in Gaza. The Israeli government believes that of the remaining 50 hostages, around 20 are still alive.
Israel’s subsequent aviation and ground attacks killed more than 61,000 people in the Palestinian enclave, local health officials said.
Most civilians have been forced out of their homes at least once, as Israel has improved its enclave aid distribution system, causing malnutrition to spiral in recent months.
Gaza’s hunger crisis has reached a “trend point,” experts and supporters told NBC News in an interview last month. Netanyahu claims that “there is no hunger in Gaza.”
Israel argues that it’s not because of the aid that hasn’t reached the Palestinians, and instead claims Hamas has stolen violence and help over distribution sites, and that the UN and other groups are blaming it for an acute lack of food and medicine.
The “worst-scenario of hunger” is being deployed in the Gaza Strip under Israeli attacks, and the integrated food security stage classification states.
Andy Eckard, Omar Bekin and Chantal da Silva contributed.
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