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In the UK, the ruling Labour Party’s annual conference this week recognized that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, shortly after the government refused to do the same. It will be interesting to see the implications of such a decision on the government and on other states in Europe, such as Italy. Will the West revise its relationship with Israel?

The Labour conference in  accepted the UN Commission of Inquiry report that stated Israel is committing genocide. The delegates backed a motion that urged the government to “employ all means reasonably available to it to prevent the commission of a genocide in Gaza.” They also called for the UK’s arms trade with Israel to be suspended.

Previously, the UK government denied that Israel was committing genocide. A week before the UN report was released,  made a dubious statement that it had “not concluded” that Israel was committing genocide. It also claimed that its arm sales, mainly parts for the F-35 jets that are used in bombing Gaza, have not led to any breaches of international humanitarian law.

The popular opposition is closing in on Starmer’s pro-Israel, pro-US position. For how long can he resist?

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

The UK government has tried to deflect criticism by recognizing the state of Palestine. This symbolic gesture was intended to show the government’s angry domestic audience that it is doing something for Palestine. However, this is not enough. The British people require accountability. The Labour Party is already showing  with the  leadership. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s position on Gaza will definitely not help his plunging popularity.

Several human rights organizations and genocide scholars have concluded that Israel is committing genocide. In July, two Israeli human rights , B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, came to that conclusion. And the UN  published last month left no doubt that Israel is committing genocide.

Following that report,  said the UK government must “prevent and punish” Israel’s genocide. The popular opposition is closing in on Starmer’s pro-Israel, pro-US position. For how long can he resist the will of the people? The government has not officially changed its position yet. However, it cannot be at war with its own party to please a foreign government.

Italy is another country where grassroots pressure is weighing on the government. Protests have swamped major Italian cities, with people demanding justice for Palestine and an end to Italian complicity in Israel’s crimes.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which was sailing to break the siege on Gaza, included  Italian citizens, among which were . Rome had ordered a navy frigate to escort the flotilla after it was attacked by drones while sailing in the Mediterranean. However, when it got to 150 nautical  from Gaza’s shore, the Italian navy turned back in order to avoid friction with Israel. The Spanish naval ship that was dispatched by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez did likewise. And Turkish drones that were following the flotilla returned to their base.

Several European countries have tried to absorb popular discontent by recognizing the state of Palestinian as a token gesture. But their people want accountability. They want to know that their elected governments are not endorsing genocide. People are not fooled by the symbolic gesture. They want real action from their states.

People want to know that their elected governments are not endorsing genocide. They want real action

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

As I wrote in a previous op-ed, the best way for Europe to punish Israel is to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. However, the EU has a crippling problem, which is the need for unanimity. This has hindered the bloc’s effectiveness and prevented it from placing sanctions on Israel. However, in her state of the  address last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “It is time to free ourselves from the shackles of unanimity.” If this requirement is removed, Israel will surely receive a slap to the face.

As much as European leaders are in cahoots with Israel, at some point they will need to cater to their people’s aspirations. As the Italian frigate left the flotilla this week, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked her citizens to come back, hypocritically claiming that their efforts risked preventing peace. Really? But the Italian people did not fall for that.  called a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the flotilla after it was intercepted.

Popular discontent is mounting. Two Gaza-bound flotillas were intercepted in June and in July and nothing happened. However, this time is different. It was not just a small group of activists trying to take aid to the Strip. The flotilla has been supported by a broad popular movement. Can Meloni’s premiership handle a general strike and perhaps even unrest to please her friends in Tel Aviv? Is it worth it? European leaders should start to rethink their support for Israel.

People power works. Of course, Israel has many tools to pressure influential people: money, smear campaigns, kompromat. However, it is the people that will have the final word. Israel was hoping that publics worldwide would grow tired of Gaza and the issue would fade from their attention. In fact, the opposite is happening. People have become more aware of what is happening. The genocide cannot be whitewashed anymore. Protests are becoming larger. Following the illegal interception of the flotilla, protests erupted in Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Brussels and Istanbul.

People are becoming more organized and more strategic. Despite cases of police brutality and the risk of arrest, they are not being cowed. European politicians must know that their publics will not be satisfied with symbolic gestures. They need to see change. Decision-makers need to take a tough stand on Israel. The tide has turned in Europe and the US will be next.

• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.