Israel’s ambassador to the European Union, Haim Regev, has called on the bloc to stop targeting Israel over its human rights record and to avoid any punitive steps related to its military operations in Gaza.

Facing growing criticism, Israel has recently seen several Western nations signal plans to recognize a Palestinian state and, in some cases, scale back military or trade cooperation.

In an interview with Politico on Wednesday, Regev accused certain EU members — including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia — of being particularly biased, while also faulting France, Germany, and the UK for making remarks he says benefit Hamas and anti-Semitic movements.

Regev argued that Israel is an ideal partner for the EU, describing it as a democracy with no migration issues that also protects LGBTQ rights. He warned that pressuring Israel through trade cuts or suspending its role in EU research initiatives would harm relations and erode the bloc’s influence in the Middle East.

He also cautioned that Europe is “slipping back” into an era when anti-Semitism was widespread, claiming that safety for Jewish communities in Europe is deteriorating.

The Gaza conflict erupted in 2023 after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 61,000 deaths in the enclave, while the UN warns of a worsening famine threatening over 2 million residents.