EU leaders converge on Israel, but calls for trade sanctions still fall flat

A summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday - the first since Israel expanded its offensive into southern Lebanon - ended with repeated calls for de-escalation in the Middle East, the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and condemnation of Israel’s recent attacks against UN peacekeepers.

But according to diplomatic sources, leaders’ stances on Israel’s operations - once deeply divided - have started to converge since Israeli forces expanded their offensive into southern Lebanon, targeting the UN peacekeeping troops of UNIFIL, which include the personnel of 16 EU countries.

“The attitude of Israel is becoming less and less acceptable to EU leaders in the room,” according to an EU official close to the discussions between leaders.

“We are seeing that positions on Israel’s operation are narrowing, or converging, while they were once polarised,” a diplomatic source from a northern EU country, said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose government is considered among the most steadfast supporters of Palestinians, told reporters he sensed a shift in leaders' positions.

"Yes, I sense, I see that those countries that have been most vocal in defending Israel are finding increasing difficulties in defending Israeli actions and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu," Sánchez said.

Sánchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose governments have not seen eye to eye on the conflict that erupted in Gaza following Hamas' October 7th attacks on Israel, took the initiative of jointly drafting the 27 leaders' final statement on the Middle East.

The move signals increasing appetite to smooth out divisions between EU leaders.

The shift is considered to be largely due to recent reports of Israeli forces firing at the UNIFIL