Escalating conflict in Gaza leads Brussels to contemplate imposing sanctions on Israel
The European Commission is set to present sanctions against Israel on Wednesday, in response to the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip. The proposed measures, which include suspending certain trade provisions under the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, have been outlined by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her annual State of the Union speech.
According to a United Nations Commission report published Tuesday, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The military offensive in Gaza City by Israel has reduced much of the strip to rubble and had a huge human cost, with Gaza's health ministry reporting over 64,000 Palestinians killed in Israel's assault. U.N. agencies and independent experts consider the ministry's casualty records as generally reliable.
The proposed sanctions will also target extremist government ministers and violent settlers in Israel. This move comes after Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza City late Monday, escalating its campaign against Hamas after weeks of heavy bombardment. The retaliation began after Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people on Israeli soil on Oct. 7, 2023 and took around 250 hostages into Gaza.
However, the EU's implementation of these sanctions faces opposition from several member states, including Germany, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Without Germany or Italy’s approval, reaching the qualified majority needed (55% of states representing 65% of EU population) is unlikely. Germany, one of Israel's staunchest defenders, has impeded European efforts to pressure Israel diplomatically.
In an effort to push Germany to 'bring alternatives', the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, plans to provide further details during a press conference on Wednesday, along with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič. According to Kaja Kallas, 'What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world.' Von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, stating, 'What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world.'
It is worth noting that if Germany had agreed to similar measures in the past, it could have potentially alleviated the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will closely monitor the developments and the EU's response to the crisis.
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