08/26/2025August 26, 2025More than 200 former EU diplomats call for measures against Israel

An open letter signed by 209 former EU and member state ambassadors and staff has called for the immediate implementation of EU measures against Israel over what they said were its “unlawful actions in Gaza and the West Bank.”

The letter called for the implementation of nine proposed EU actions against the Israeli government.

Among these proposals are the unilateral suspension or revocation of arms export licenses to Israel and the halting of funding of national co-financed projects involving Israeli entities.

The letter called for the enforcement of sanctions on human rights grounds and counter-terrorism laws which would include visa bans and asset freezes.

The letter, addressed to leaders of the 27 EU member states and leadership structures of the European Commission, among others, followed another open letter sent late in July.

“We note with dismay that, in the ensuing four weeks since our letter, no ceasefire has been agreed in Gaza, no Israeli hostages have been released, and, alarmingly, the Israeli government has begun implementing plans to empty Gaza City and its environs,” the joint letter said.

The former diplomats noted that since the previous open communication, more than 2,600 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, many of them women and children.

“Compounding the totally inadequate humanitarian access to Gaza, the Israeli government has continued to prevent UNRWA and 100 international NGOs from delivering any aid since 2 March,” the letter stated.

“We express our profound disappointment that, in response to the deteriorating situation in Gaza, no substantive measures have been taken by the EU to pressure Israel to end its brutal war,” the letter said.