EU, U.K. ask Israel to reconsider escalation in Gaza as Germany suspends some arms exports to Israel

European governments, on Friday (August 8, 2025), pushed back against the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to take over Gaza City. The U.K. and E.U. called for Tel Aviv to “reconsider” its move and Germany said it would not export arms to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip.

Following a meeting of Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet, the Israeli government approved a plan early on Friday (August 8, 2025), for Israel to take over Gaza City. The Cabinet’s plan to end the war would also include Israel managing the security of all of the Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered,” European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said in a statement on social media site X, as she called for an immediate ceasefire.

“At the same time, there must be the release of all hostages, who are being held in inhumane conditions,” she said referring to the hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023.

The EU chief executive said humanitarian aid must reach Gaza immediately and not be obstructed. The actions Israel is undertaking in Gaza “looks very much” like Genocide, European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera told media outlet Politico on Thursday.

U.K Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Israel’s decision to escalate its offensive in Gaza on Friday (August 8, 2025) asking the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “reconsider” his government’s decision to take control of all of the Gaza strip.

“The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately,” Mr Starmer said.

“Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution,” Mr Starmer added, reiterating his government’s position that Hamas could not be permitted to play any role in the governance of Gaza and must disarm and exit the area.

The U.K. had announced on July 29 that it would recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) if Israel did not act to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

French President Emmanuel Macron had announced on July 24 that France would recognize the state of Palestine at the UNGA session in September. With this, France became the first G7 country to commit to recognizing a Palestinian state.

Germany, which has a particularly close relationship with Israel due to its unique responsibility for the Holocaust, said it was stopping the export of arms to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. Germany is the second largest supplier of arms to Israel after the U.S. The decision however did not appear to block a sale of all German arms to Israel.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Israel had a right to defend itself against Hamas, and that the top priorities were the release of hostages and a ceasefire (which did not involve Hamas governing Gaza). Israel’s latest decision to escalate its offensive were not helpful to these goals, Mr Merz suggested.

“The new military push agreed by the Israeli security cabinet makes it increasingly unclear how these goals are to be achieved,” he said. Germany also called on Israel not to take any steps to annex the West Bank.