In September, the European Union appeared ready to suspend trade agreements with Israel due to its human rights violations in Gaza. Concurrently, a notable shift occurred in the United States, where a record number of Democratic lawmakers began advocating for restrictions on weapons transfers to Israel. This momentum was echoed in Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government imposed a ban on sending weapons to Israel that could be utilized in Gaza, expressing profound concern for the suffering of civilians in the region.
However, by early October, the landscape shifted dramatically with the implementation of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which many world leaders labeled a “ceasefire” or “peace plan,” despite the ongoing violence in Gaza. This development seemed to dampen international concern, as governments and institutions exhibited a renewed eagerness to revert to the status quo.
Just a week after the Gaza plan took effect, EU parliamentarians proposed sanctions against Israel for its human rights abuses. Yet, within a month, Germany, Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, announced the lifting of its arms embargo, culminating in a $3.5 billion deal to enhance missile defense systems for Israel. Eurovision, the widely popular singing competition, also cleared Israel to continue participating, despite calls for a boycott from several European nations. The U.N. Security Council subsequently endorsed Trump’s plan, agreeing to assist in forming an International Stabilization Force.
In the U.S. Congress, despite polls indicating widespread disapproval of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, efforts to advance the Block the Bombs to Israel Act have faltered, gaining only two new co-sponsors since Trump declared a peace agreement. Tariq Kenney-Shawa, a policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, noted that the declaration of a “ceasefire” has had a paralyzing effect on activists and the general public, serving as a release valve for the pressure to end the violence.
Despite the supposed ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its operations, conducting over 350 strikes in Gaza since the agreement, resulting in significant casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 394 deaths and over 1,000 injuries, while Israel maintains a blockade on humanitarian aid, violating both the 20-point plan and international law. A staggering $50 million worth of aid remains stuck at the border, including essential supplies for food and healthcare.
The global hunger monitor IPC recently declared that while Gaza is no longer experiencing famine, many residents still face acute food insecurity, with half a million people at emergency levels of malnutrition. The situation has been exacerbated by severe winter storms that have devastated makeshift shelters, leading to additional fatalities.
As public outrage has waned, Israel and its supporters have attempted to regain control of the narrative. At a conference, former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz attributed Israel’s deteriorating public relations among younger Americans to social media platforms like TikTok, which she claimed inundate users with graphic content from Gaza. Similarly, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dismissed concerns over the violence as “pure propaganda,” failing to acknowledge the broader context of free speech suppression regarding Palestine solidarity advocacy.
In Australia, following a tragic mass shooting at a Jewish event, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked the violence to the country’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, while lawmakers considered banning protests in response. In the U.K., police began criminalizing chants associated with Palestinian resistance, reflecting a broader trend of stifling dissent against Israeli policies.
Despite these challenges, Kenney-Shawa remains optimistic that Israel’s efforts to control the narrative will ultimately fail. He argues that the current generation, armed with new information about the realities of Israel, is unlikely to revert to previous misconceptions.
Polling indicates a growing rejection of the U.S. government’s special relationship with Israel among Americans, particularly on the left, which could significantly influence upcoming elections. The future of Trump’s Gaza plan remains uncertain, particularly regarding its second phase, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas—an unlikely prospect given the group’s demands for a pathway to statehood.
Activists are increasingly seeking tangible ways to disrupt the flow of weapons to Israel, with campaigns emerging to target supply chains. In Congress, public pressure is beginning to reshape political stances, as evidenced by a resolution introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib recognizing the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, which has garnered support from multiple lawmakers.
As Ruebner from the Institute for Middle East Understanding noted, public opinion has shifted dramatically, and the images and narratives of the past two years have left an indelible mark on the American consciousness. The question remains whether this growing awareness will translate into meaningful change for the Palestinian people.
Reviewed by: News Desk
Edited with AI assistance + Human research
