Sharp European Division Over Imposing Sanctions on Israel Despite Deteriorating Conditions in Gaza
The European Union expressed its sharp division regarding taking punitive measures against Israel, against the backdrop of the ongoing war and the worsening catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In statements on the sidelines of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries in the Danish capital, European diplomacy chief, Kaia Kallas, said: "I am not very optimistic, and we certainly will not make any decision today." She added: "This sends a message that we are divided."
The Estonian official revealed that the European Commission had proposed suspending European funding for Israeli startups, considering this measure "lenient," but it was not adopted due to disagreements among member states.
The European Union faces a stark division, with countries like Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia opposing any sanctions, while other countries like Ireland and Spain strongly support them.
For its part, Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers, expressed its support for finding a solution that goes beyond the consensus rule in foreign policy. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said: "The Union must move from words to actions," proposing a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a measure that can be taken by qualified majority as part of trade policy. Rasmussen emphasized the need to "take steps that allow the majority to express its opinion."
For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the situation in Gaza as an "absolute tragedy."
This European debate comes as the humanitarian situation in the besieged sector heads towards a breaking point, with the World Food Programme warning that famine-stricken Gaza has reached the brink of collapse.
Despite rising international and local pressures to end the war, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist on pursuing its military operations in the city of Gaza, aiming for what it calls "eliminating Hamas and recovering all hostages who were kidnapped during the attack on October 7, 2023."
