The European Commission has no intention of stripping Israel of visa-free access to Europe despite rights-abuses in the occupied Gaza and West Bank.
This comes despite new rules from last December that allow the Brussels-executive to stop granting free travel passes to countries that violate human rights and international law.
“At the moment, we don’t see migratory or security risks coming from Israel,” Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner in charge of home affairs, told European lawmakers on Tuesday (24 February).
He also said there was no appetite to “single out” visa-free partners, citing overall relations with Israel.
The commission has in the past condemned Israel for new rules that essentially prevent NGOs from operating in Gaza. It has also in the past described as “illegal” Israeli plans to annex Palestinian territory.
But those views have since been tempered and softened with rhetoric that now describes the annexation as a step “in the wrong direction”.
Word play aside, dozens of progressive and left-leaning MEPs have demanded the European Commission strip Israel of visa-free access to the European Union.
Among them is Matjaz Nemec, a Slovenian MEP with the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), who demanded Brunner take action.
Nemec said Israel is continuing its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, its illegal annexations of Palestinian land and expansion of illegal settlements.
“Clearly the conditions under the regulation for triggering the [visa suspension] mechanism are met,” the MEP said on Tuesday.
“When is the commission going to start applying its own laws?,” he added.
The regulation, which went into the force last December, states that visas may be suspended when a country violates fundamental freedoms, human rights law , international human rights law, as well as principles in the United Nations charter.
Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the visa suspension mechanism .
Similar questions were asked last week in a joint-letter, signed by 38 left-leaning and liberal MEPs, including Nemec, to commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Brunner.
They say that since the ceasefire of 10 October 2025, more than 488 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, including at least 100 children. Citing authorities in Gaza, they also say Israel has reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement more than 1,200 times.
In January, the commission adopted a new visa strategy that broadly threatens foreign states into accepting the readmission of their own nationals at risk of losing visa-free travel access.
“The visa policy is Schengen’s first line of defense against illegal migration, but also organised crime, terrorism,” said Brunner.