Gaza genocide exposes the erosion of EU human rights commitments

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in 2025, we see no starker contrast to the ideals of the international law framework than the genocide that has unfolded in Gaza for more than two years. After eight decades of international commitments to protect human dignity, the EU’s silence stands in contrast to the international law framework and associated EU obligations and commitments to upholding it. Such backsliding is further exemplified by EU member states’ antagonistic responses towards Palestinians fleeing as well as towards individuals in Europe carrying out acts of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As a human rights organisation defending the rights of people with irregular migration status, PICUM notes that Palestinians face similar challenges to undocumented migrants: being denied freedom of movement access to work, and civil and political rights. Their very legal existence is precarious due to Israel’s control over the population and borders in the West Bank and Gaza. The ongoing denial of rights is part of a decades-long process of systematic exclusion and statelessness.

Encouraged by the recent declarations from European and other countries recognizing Palestinian statehood as well as the ceasefire that was declared in October 2025, we call on the EU and Member States to immediately implement protection and assistance measures for Palestinians and those that stand in solidarity with them.

The EU should uphold its humanitarian obligations including by resolving the administrative situation of Palestinians who are present in the EU and enabling safe and regular pathways for Palestinians. Palestinian passports should be recognized as valid travel documents, enabling individuals to travel and seek protection. Visa deliveries should be facilitated and processed with flexibility and urgency. States should urgently issue residence permits to Palestinians and allow them to renew their permits or visas without undue obstruction. Asylum applications from Palestinians should be processed speedily, and refugee status should be granted broadly and without delay, ensuring that those in need are quickly granted a residence status. Member States should put an immediate end to the abusive practice of withdrawing nationality and ensure that children of Palestinians born in the EU not be revoked of their nationality under any circumstances.

The restrictions to Palestinian solidarity movements with repeated attacks on the right to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression exemplifies the shrinking of civic space we have been witnessing already for many years. Governments across the EU have introduced unwarranted measures to curtail and punish the expression of solidarity with Palestinians. We are very concerned about the severity of violations taking place in different member states, which includes widespread and arbitrary detention and excessive and/or unnecessary use of force. What we are witnessing today shows a very worrying trend towards the undermining of the rule of law.

We urge EU institutions and member states to uphold and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, including for those showing solidarity with Palestinians.

As the world celebrates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945 on 24 October, the founding document of the United Nations, we call on the EU and Member States to act now and stand by international law and human rights.