World

EU Urges Gaza Ceasefire, But Internal Divisions Emerge: How This Impacts the Peace Process

EU urges Gaza ceasefire. Official condemns Israeli strikes after over 100 killed. Internal divisions highlighted.

October 29, 2025, 11:23 AM

European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera speaking in front of EU flags in Brussels, Belgium.

"We need a chance for peace, not excuses for new strikes," EC Vice President Teresa Ribera said in a social media post. By Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

The European Union officially urged “all parties” to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, emphasizing the importance of fully committing to the peace plan and stating there is “no military solution to this conflict.”

EU Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera strongly condemned recent Israeli air strikes, calling for a “chance for peace, not excuses for new strikes” and previously describing the war as a “genocide,” highlighting internal EU divisions.

The EU’s call and Ribera’s criticism followed Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets, which Israel stated were in response to alleged ceasefire breaches, and reportedly resulted in over 100 fatalities, including at least 35 children.

The Story So Far

The recent Israeli air strikes in Gaza, reportedly killing over 100 people, are framed by Israel as a response to an alleged breach of a ceasefire that began on October 10. This escalation underscores deep internal divisions within the European Union, where member states hold varied stances on the conflict, leading to differing official statements and strong criticisms from senior EU officials regarding Israel’s actions.

Why This Matters

The divergence between the European Union’s official call for ceasefire adherence and a senior EU official’s direct condemnation of Israeli strikes underscores the bloc’s deep internal divisions on the Gaza conflict, which complicates its ability to present a unified foreign policy and potentially weakens its influence in mediating a resolution or advocating for peace.

Who Thinks What?

The European Union’s executive arm officially urged “all parties” to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, fully commit to all phases of the peace plan, and refrain from actions that could jeopardize the agreement, asserting there is no military solution to the conflict.

European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera directly condemned recent Israeli air strikes, stating that a “chance for peace” was needed “not excuses for new strikes,” and previously described the war in Gaza as a “genocide.”

The European Union on Wednesday urged “all parties” to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, a call that followed strong condemnation of recent Israeli air strikes by a senior EU official, European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera, highlighting the bloc’s internal divisions on the conflict. Ribera stated that a “chance for peace” was needed, “not excuses for new strikes,” after more than 100 people were reportedly killed in the Palestinian territory.

EU Commission’s Official Stance

The EU’s executive arm reiterated its official position, calling on all parties to respect the ceasefire. Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni emphasized the importance of fully committing to all phases of the plan to end the conflict and refraining from any actions that could jeopardize the agreement. He concluded by asserting that “there is no military solution to this conflict.”

Senior Official’s Criticism

In contrast to the Commission’s more generalized statement, Vice President Ribera, a former member of Spain’s socialist government, directly criticized Israel’s actions in a social media post. Her remarks were not formally echoed by the EU executive. Ribera, whose portfolio does not include foreign policy, had previously described the war in Gaza as a “genocide” last month, positioning her among Europe’s more critical voices regarding Israel’s operations.

Recent Strikes and Casualties

The EU’s call and Ribera’s criticism came after Israel conducted air strikes on dozens of Hamas targets. Israel stated these strikes were in response to Hamas breaching a ceasefire, which began on October 10, by allegedly not returning the bodies of deceased hostages swiftly enough and killing an Israeli soldier. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that these latest strikes resulted in over 100 fatalities, including at least 35 children, a toll corroborated by an AFP tally of medical sources.

Internal EU Divisions

The varied responses underscore the delicate balancing act the EU executive performs concerning the Gaza conflict. The 27-nation bloc remains divided, with some member states offering strong support for Israel while others demonstrate greater sympathy for the Palestinian cause.

Continued Calls for Peace

The EU continues to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, urging all actors to prioritize de-escalation and adherence to the agreed-upon ceasefire. The divergence in rhetoric from within the Commission reflects the complex political landscape surrounding the Middle East crisis.