It has been a year since Hamas launched a horrific incursion into southern Israel, killing nearly 1200 people and taking hundreds of hostages.
Israel’s response to the raid was forceful and bloody. Since 7 October 2023, the Israeli armed forces have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Many countries and international organisations have accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing genocide and crimes against humanity.
Now, with the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Middle East has entered a new and even more dangerous phase. The taboo of direct military confrontation between Iran and Israel has also been broken, bringing the region closer to full-blown war.
The conflict in the Middle East has played out parallel to Europe’s shift to the right, partly contributing to fuelling it. Due to historical reasons and political division, European countries have failed to project a united front in the face of the escalating crisis and effectively push for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Islamophobia and antisemitism have been on the rise. The dehumanisation of civilians in Gaza has parallels with that of migrants reaching European shores. Even Green parties, which have a strong record of fighting discrimination, have sometimes struggled to live up to their values and fight xenophobic tropes.
And yet, now is the time when Europe needs unity the most. The war is taking more lives every day, and a wider conflict could have ripple effects well beyond the Middle East.
Can the EU play a constructive role in de-escalation? How can governments reconcile the values they profess with geopolitical interests? A commitment to inclusion, diversity, and tolerance is at the basis of the European project, and it can still teach useful lessons in times of crisis.
Delve into this series of articles for in-depth analyses of the situation in the Middle East and the uncomfortable questions it raises in Europe. Also, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you get all the latest articles from the Green European Journal.
Articles in this focus
Hamas’s attack on 7 October and Israel’s retaliation led to a wave of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe. How do we address this?
Read moreAs the Israel-Palestine crisis continues to intensify, the EU’s lack of a Middle East strategy becomes increasingly apparent.
Read moreIreland, a prosperous Western European nation with a sordid past of colonial subjugation, is in a unique position when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Read moreWhile Green parties have long been associated with inclusive politics, they are not always without prejudice towards Islam.
Read moreFighting climate change demands addressing underlying political injustice.
Read moreThe treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and that of migrants trying to cross European borders have more in common than meets the eye.
Read moreThe possibility of a full-blown war between Israel and Lebanon has never been stronger. The EU must do everything in its power to defuse tensions.
Read moreThe same people who failed to prevent Hamas’s attack on 7 October, are also poisoning public discourse in Israel.
Read moreCan an increasingly vulnerable nuclear deal remain on the table amid regional unrest and counter-allegiances?
Read more