Irish President Slams EU’s “Lethargic” Response to Gaza Crisis

Irish President Michael D. Higgins has strongly criticised the European Union’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that Europe’s “lethargic” response has inflicted lasting reputational damage.

Mr. Higgins accused EU leaders of failing to adequately address the “daily horrors” in the besieged enclave, including mass starvation, malnutrition among children, and the plight of hostages. He lamented that many European leaders “have stayed silent,” while those who did speak out avoided the “appropriate language” to describe the suffering.

“Europe will find it very difficult to repair the damage that has been done by a lethargic response that has tolerated impunity,” he said. “On July 15th, measures were announced to allow humanitarian relief. How many have died since then? How many children have been put into an irrecoverable place?”

The president, a long-standing advocate for Palestinian rights, has repeatedly called for stronger international action. Earlier this month, he urged the UN General Assembly to establish a peacekeeping force to guarantee humanitarian access to Gaza. Following the UN’s declaration of famine in Gaza City, he described the situation as a “tragic period in world history.”

Ireland has consistently pressed for a two-state solution and was among the European nations that recently signed a letter condemning Israel’s plans to expand the war in Gaza. The letter warned of worsening humanitarian conditions, the risk to hostages, and the potential displacement of nearly one million Palestinians.

Mr. Higgins also drew attention to the deaths of more than 200 journalists in Gaza, praising their “immediate reports of the devastation.” A vigil in Dublin this week saw members of the National Union of Journalists gather at the Spire on O’Connell Street in solidarity with their colleagues in the conflict zone.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting within Europe. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and her Dutch counterpart Ruben Brekelmans have called on EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas to intensify pressure on both Israel and Hamas.

In their joint letter, the ministers described the humanitarian situation as “intolerable” and urged sanctions on Hamas leaders, as well as on extremist Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. They also expressed support for suspending Israel’s preferential trade agreement with the EU and restricting its participation in the Horizon Europe research programme moves that face resistance from Germany, Italy, and Hungary.

“The civilian suffering is beyond words,” the ministers wrote. “We feel that more needs to be done to ramp up pressure on the Israeli government to change its course and meet its obligations under international law.”

As divisions deepen among EU members, Mr. Higgins warned that the bloc’s credibility is at stake. “Even language itself has become a victim of this conflict,” he said.