Despite mounting evidence of war crimes in Gaza and the International Criminal Court issuing a warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the European Union and most of its member states continue to hold back from taking any action—no sanctions, no diplomatic rupture, no boycott. Why?

Why the EU Hesitates to Act

Germany, arguably Israel’s closest ally in Europe, has long framed Israel’s security as a core tenet of its national identity—a Staatsräson. Rooted in its historical responsibility for the Holocaust, this doctrine continues to shape Berlin’s foreign policy. Although Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently expressed doubts about Israel’s goals in Gaza, Germany remains fundamentally constrained by a collective guilt that translates into political paralysis. Criticizing Israel is seen as too risky, too loaded—almost a betrayal of national conscience.

Curbing free speech, the right to protest, and academic freedom — long considered sacrosanct in any liberal democracy — no longer seems to be in Germany, and no action is taken by the European Union against Germany. In the government’s zealous campaign against antisemitism, these fundamental liberties are now treated as lesser concerns, collateral damage in what they see as a moral crusade.

German media coverage of the war in Gaza remains largely muted or one-sided, failing to critically examine Israel’s actions or amplify Palestinian perspectives. While political rhetoric is hardening—evident in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s admission of disillusionment and growing calls to halt arms exports—the press continues to lag behind public sentiment and international outcry, although after two months of Israel’s total blockade on Gaza, some cracks have begun to appear in the German media. This disconnect exposes a troubling reluctance in German journalism to confront uncomfortable truths, rooted in historical guilt but resulting in journalistic paralysis.

The EU is sharply divided when it comes to Israel and Palestine. On one side, countries like Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have recognized the State of Palestine, backed international legal proceedings........

© New Eastern Outlook