From the European Union to the United Kingdom, through Canada, diplomatic measures against Israel are growing. Yet Israel continues with the genocide in Gaza.

In recent days the European Union took a firm and concrete stance against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip for the first time, announcing a review of the Association Agreement in force since 2000. At the same time, the United Kingdom suspended trade negotiations with Israel, while Canada and even the United States expressed concern over what Israel is doing in Palestinian territory.

It appears that in recent weeks the distancing from Israel and the genocide it is carrying out in the Gaza Strip has extended well beyond public opinion and has also involved the international community. This signals that the climate is shifting around the country led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who in the meantime continues to bomb Palestinian territory indiscriminately, while diplomatic discussions over a ceasefire continue.

In recent days there has been a radical shift in the international community's approach toward Israel. On 20 May the European Union announced a review of the Association Agreement with Israel in force since 2000. The decision was taken following a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, with the support of the majority of member states (Italy excluded). Article 2 of the agreement, which requires respect for human rights and democratic principles, was at the centre of concerns, in light of serious Israeli violations in Gaza.

At the same time, the United Kingdom suspended trade negotiations with Israel, citing the military offensive and the humanitarian blockade in Gaza as the main reasons for its decision. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the mass forced displacement caused by Israeli bombardments as "morally unjustifiable" and announced new sanctions against Israeli settlers and illegal settlements in the West Bank. Spain also took a stance against Israel, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling it "a genocidal state" with which it no longer wishes to conduct commercial business. Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, stressed that Israel's "military actions can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas terrorism."

Even United States President Donald Trump — the key diplomatic reference point for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — expressed concern during his Middle East visit for the Palestinian people dying of hunger in Gaza, where, in his own words, "a lot of bad things are happening" (in the meantime, however, he intensified the crackdown on American universities over anti-Israel protests). Remaining in the Americas, Canada also took a clear stance against the Israeli offensive, calling it "disproportionate" and threatening sanctions if the humanitarian blockade is not lifted.

This change of direction by the international community — after months of global public opinion taking to the streets and raising its voice against the genocide — has its roots precisely in that very fact. But also in the reality that Israel's actions have grown increasingly brutal month after month.

Since the beginning of March, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and has resumed heavy bombardment of homes, hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure. In recent hours the army announced it had launched an "unprecedented attack" on the town of Khan Younis, while a strike on the home of a Palestinian doctor killed nine of her ten children. Another attack on a building housing displaced people in Gaza City caused at least 40 deaths, and images of children engulfed in flames spread around the world. In recent hours the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — an NGO created by Israel with United States support to take over the management of aid distribution in Gaza, sidelining the UN and the hundreds of other humanitarian organisations operating in Palestinian territory — began distributing the first packages, according to a scheme that has been described as discriminatory and inadequate.

The Israeli government has for weeks continued to repeat that the ultimate objective is the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, including the forced transfer of its population abroad. In the meantime, however, ceasefire talks continue, amid announcements of imminent agreements and subsequent denials.

The latest plan is the one presented by United States special envoy Steve Witkoff, which calls for Hamas to release half of the hostages still alive and the other half of those who have died, in exchange for a temporary ceasefire that would then lead to further negotiations toward an end to the war. The ceasefire signed in January already envisaged a similar process of further negotiations, but in early March Israel unilaterally violated the agreement and resumed its offensive.