Von der Leyen Acknowledges Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza in State of the Union Speech

On 10 September 2025, during her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. 

The President emphasised that famine can never be a weapon of war and outlined some measures to respond – including proposals for trade sanctions and suspending bilateral support to Israel. 
This is a step in the right direction – but it is not enough.

These steps, while famine has been confirmed in Gaza City and surrounding areas, and Israel just issued displacement orders for the entire city and continues to accelerate its military offensive there, killing dozens daily, forcibly displacing thousands of starving children, women, and men who have nowhere safe to go and no access to basic humanitarian support, are too little.

The situation in Gaza is unbearable. Access to humanitarian assistance is systematically obstructed, and the populations and humanitarian workers alike are targeted while trying to get aid, in clear violation of International Humanitarian Law.  Strong political action is urgently needed to halt what has been described as a genocide by many scholars, and send a clear signal in support of humanity and dignity, and to allow principled and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to resume without delay. 

The crises in Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, these are just a few of the crises the world is currently witnessing and that need urgent attention and action to ensure that IHL must be upheld and respected – everywhere.

We call on the EU and Member States to assume their responsibilities and step up to uphold IHL and protect civilians and humanitarian workers.