Europe's continued political and economic engagement with "Israel" throughout its genocidal war on Gaza has not only undermined the continent's international credibility but also intensified divisions within European societies, raising questions about the future of democratic rights and political participation.

In an opinion piece published in The Guardian, journalist and political commentator Shada Islam argued that three years of European inaction in the face of Israeli atrocities have exposed the selective application of human rights principles while creating an increasingly hostile political environment for Palestinian solidarity movements and Muslim communities.

The consequences, she warned, extend far beyond Europe's foreign policy, as governments that claim to champion democracy and fundamental freedoms increasingly restrict dissent and scrutinize minority communities within their own borders.

Since October 2023, "Israel's" assault on Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, wounded thousands more, and devastated much of the besieged territory, according to the figures cited in the article.

Despite the scale of the destruction, Islam noted that the European Union has failed to adopt collective sanctions, impose comprehensive trade restrictions, or collectively halt arms transfers to "Israel", maintaining extensive ties with the occupying power.

She argued that this failure has exposed contradictions in Europe's proclaimed commitment to universal human rights, particularly when contrasted with its sweeping punitive measures against Russia following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Source:Websites