Edith Hejberg
European Commission executive vice-president Teresa Ribera has sparked controversy after telling Politico that Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza appears alarmingly close to genocide.
In a candid interview with Brussels Playbook, Teresa Ribera described scenes of widespread destruction and human suffering that, in her view, echo the legal definition of the term.
Ribera’s Stark Description of Gaza Crisis
“What we are seeing is a concrete population being targeted, killed and condemned to starve to death,” Ribera said.
She detailed a situation where civilians are left without shelter, food, water, or medical aid, while being subjected to relentless attacks, even when seeking humanitarian assistance. “Any humanity is absent,” she added, underscoring the gravity of the crisis.
“If It’s Not Genocide, It Looks Very Much Like It”
Ribera’s conclusion was blunt: “If it is not genocide, it looks very much like the definition used to express its meaning.”
Her comments mark one of the strongest statements yet from a senior EU official regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, language rarely used at this level of European leadership.
No Response from Israel; EU Stops Short
According to Politico, Israeli authorities declined to respond to Ribera’s remarks. Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide.
While the European Commission as a whole has not adopted Ribera’s terminology, her statement adds pressure amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s military conduct.
Trade Ties Could Be at Risk
Ribera also suggested that the European Union should consider suspending its association agreement with Israel, a key trade and economic pact.
Such a move would signal a major diplomatic shift and could have tangible consequences for EU-Israel relations if taken up by other Commission members.
Previous EU Warnings Over Human Rights Breaches
Just last month, the EU acknowledged “indications” that Israel may be violating human rights obligations in Gaza.
However, the bloc stopped short of pursuing immediate sanctions. Ribera’s latest comments may renew calls within the EU to take stronger action or reassess its current stance on the conflict.
