Tel Aviv: Israel’s Ambassador to the European Union, Haim Regev, has warned of a “diplomatic erosion” in Israel’s relationship with the EU, amid growing discontent across the continent with Tel Aviv, as the country’s war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza drags on and public sympathy fades.
“There is no diplomatic tsunami, but there is certainly a diplomatic erosion that must be addressed,” Regev reportedly said during a closed-door briefing with Israeli journalists in Brussels on Thursday. According to The Times of Israel, Regev’s statement has come amid heightened scrutiny of Israeli actions in Gaza and shifting sentiment among European governments.
Regev acknowledged that the Israeli Foreign Ministry was “working” and “running a highly intensive diplomatic campaign” in response to what he described as a cooling of support in Europe, where graphic images from Gaza have fuelled public outrage and political pressure.
“Europe is seeing horrific images and struggling to deal with them. The support we had at the beginning of the war is no longer there,” he said, according to Walla. His remarks reflect a broader concern in Jerusalem that Israel’s diplomatic footing in Europe is becoming increasingly unsteady.
Tensions escalated earlier this week when the European Union announced a review of its long-standing Association Agreement with Israel — a pivotal trade and cooperation pact — citing alleged human rights violations during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Regev confirmed reports that Israel’s foreign ministry had managed to stave off an outright suspension of the agreement by securing backing from 10 of the EU’s 27 member states.
“I can say with a fairly high degree of certainty that there won’t be a consensus for a full cancellation of the agreement — not even for a partial one,” Regev said, while warning that European patience with Israel’s conduct in Gaza was wearing thin.
The Association Agreement, signed in 1995 and in effect since 2000, underpins economic and political cooperation between Israel and the EU. Its potential review marks a significant development in a relationship historically defined by trade, shared security interests and diplomatic coordination.
European criticism of Israel has sharpened in recent weeks. Twenty-two EU countries jointly called for an immediate resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza, while France, the UK and Canada issued a pointed warning of “concrete actions” should Israel not rein in what they termed “wholly disproportionate” military operations. The UK has also frozen bilateral trade talks with Israel.
The backlash follows increasingly severe statements from European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “unacceptable” and “shameful,” while Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez last week accused Israel of committing “genocide” — rhetoric that has inflamed tensions between Jerusalem and several EU capitals.
Adding to Israel’s diplomatic headaches, Regev flagged a French-Saudi-led initiative to recognise a Palestinian state during a UN conference in June as a major looming challenge. Should such a proposal gain momentum, it could deepen Israel’s international isolation, particularly if it garners broad multilateral support.
Regev also criticised divisive rhetoric from figures across Israel’s political spectrum, saying such comments have fuelled negative perceptions abroad. He singled out Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who recently vowed to “totally destroy” Gaza, and Yair Golan, head of the left-leaning Democrats party, who accused the government of “killing babies as a hobby.”
Regev said such statements “have caused serious harm abroad,” according to Kan news.
Throughout the conflict, the Israeli embassy in Brussels has tried to focus attention on the October 7 Hamas attacks that triggered the war. Regev said his team repeatedly screened footage of the atrocities and highlighted the plight of Israeli hostages. “We showed the horror film. We wore them out with the hostages,” he reportedly said. “But this understanding has faded.”
One of the EU’s core concerns has been the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Following an 11-week blockade that severely restricted the entry of aid, Israel began allowing limited humanitarian convoys into the Strip earlier this week. The decision was attributed to mounting pressure from key allies, including the United States and European nations.
Regev acknowledged that Israel’s refusal to publish its own Gaza casualty data has left foreign governments reliant on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry — further complicating Israel’s attempts to control the international narrative. He added that resuming the flow of humanitarian aid could help improve diplomatic ties and ease growing tensions with European partners.
As the war nears its eighth month, Regev’s remarks serve as a candid reflection of Israel’s growing isolation in Europe — a challenge that may prove as consequential as the military campaign itself
