JERUSALEM / LONDON / STOCKHOLM – A heated internal debate within Israel and increasing international condemnation are marking a tumultuous period concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Recent statements from Israeli politicians have sparked widespread outrage, prompting sharp rebukes from both within the country and from key international partners.

Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s Democrats, ignited a firestorm by asserting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are “killing babies as a hobby.” This highly controversial remark drew an immediate and strong response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned Golan’s words as “despicable antisemitic blood libels.”

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Further fueling the controversy, Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin doubled down on extreme rhetoric in response to Golan’s comments, stating, “Every baby in Gaza is an enemy.” He escalated his stance by advocating for the colonization of Gaza, declaring, “We need to colonize Gaza and not leave a single child there. There’s no other victory.” These statements have been met with alarm by many observers.

The escalating rhetoric within Israel coincides with significant actions from international allies. The United Kingdom has announced a pause in its free-trade agreement negotiations with Israel and has suspended arms sales, citing concerns that these could be “used in Gaza,” according to Al Jazeera, quoting the British Foreign Minister.

Adding to the international pressure, Sweden has declared its intention to seek EU sanctions targeting specific Israeli ministers. Sweden’s Foreign Minister stated, “Since we do not see a clear improvement for the civilians in Gaza, we need to raise the tone further. We will therefore now also push for EU sanctions against individual Israeli ministers.”

These developments underscore a growing rift in the international community’s approach to the conflict, as well as a stark internal division within Israeli political discourse regarding the military operation and its consequences for Gaza’s civilian population.