An Unpopular War: European Disapproval of Gaza Campaign Hardens into Policy

The European Union’s move toward sanctions reflects the hardening of widespread European disapproval of Israel’s Gaza campaign into concrete policy. What began as public protests and critical statements has now evolved into a formal proposal for economic and political punishment.
For months, opinion polls across the EU have shown significant public opposition to the scale and duration of Israel’s military operation. The high Palestinian death toll and the dire humanitarian situation have generated sympathy and outrage, creating a political environment where governments feel pressured to take a stronger stance.
This groundswell of public opinion has been a key factor in the policy shift of leaders like Ursula von der Leyen. The political cost of being perceived as complicit or inactive in the face of the crisis has steadily risen, pushing the EU’s leadership towards a more interventionist position.
The sanctions proposal is the culmination of this process. It is the point where political rhetoric and public sentiment are translated into the legal and economic language of tariffs and asset freezes. It represents the institutionalization of Europe’s disapproval.
This transition from opinion to policy is a critical moment. It demonstrates the responsiveness of the EU system to public pressure, but it also raises the stakes of the conflict with Israel. The Israeli government is no longer just facing critical newspaper editorials and street demonstrations; it is facing the institutional might of its largest trading partner.