The European Commission has proposed sanctions against several Israeli Cabinet ministers and violent settlers, alongside a partial suspension of Israel’s trade privileges with the bloc.
Officials in Brussels say the move is aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza rather than punishing Israel.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said all member states agree the situation in Gaza is “untenable”:
“The aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The war must end, the suffering must stop, and the hostages must be released.”
She also criticised Israel’s military push into Gaza City, warning that the escalation would only deepen the crisis.
Trade concessions under threat
European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič explained that the proposal would affect core parts of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, meaning Israeli goods would no longer enjoy preferential access to EU markets. Instead, they would face standard tariffs applied to any non-EU country without a trade deal.
The EU remains Israel’s largest trading partner, with goods trade reaching €42.6 billion in 2024. Šefčovič described the move as “a carefully considered response to an increasingly urgent situation”. The EU Council will decide on the proposal by qualified majority.
Sanctions and frozen funding
The Commission also announced sanctions on Hamas, extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers. In addition, around €14 million in bilateral support earmarked for Israel between 2020 and 2024 will be halted.
Dubravka Suica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, stressed that this suspension applied only to the Israeli government, while funding for civil society, projects against antisemitism, and Holocaust remembrance initiatives such as Yad Vashem would remain unaffected.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement:
“The horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis must stop. That is why we are proposing to suspend trade concessions with Israel, impose sanctions on extremist ministers and settlers, and freeze bilateral support.”
Humanitarian toll in Gaza
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have killed almost 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children. Relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable, triggering famine and the spread of disease.
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critica...
Washington’s seizure of a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil shows a shift from financial sanctions to direct maritime action, further straining relatio...
Anewz brings you the best videos of the day from around the world covering everything from uplifting events to updates in conflict zones....
At least 37 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, Moroccan authorities ...
The European Union’s interest in investing in regional connectivity projects in the South Caucasus, such as the Trump Route for International Peace ...
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critical damage.
Anewz brings you the best videos of the day from around the world covering everything from uplifting events to updates in conflict zones.
The European Union’s interest in investing in regional connectivity projects in the South Caucasus, such as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is driven by a need for strategic credibility and a tangible foreign policy success, according to a regional expert.
French senators on Monday approved a revised 2026 budget bill that the government warned could worsen the country’s fiscal deficit, setting the stage for tense negotiations between parliament’s two chambers later this week.
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said that Ukraine has not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of children it alleges were taken illegally to Russia, despite the issue being discussed during talks in Istanbul.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
An explosive device found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers in Bondi shooting has been secured and removed according to Police. The incident left 12 people dead.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has offered condolences to President Donald Trump following an ISIS attack near the ancient city of Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, Syrian and U.S. officials said Sunday.
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critical damage.
Washington’s seizure of a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil shows a shift from financial sanctions to direct maritime action, further straining relations with Caracas and increasing risks for global shipping.
Anewz brings you the best videos of the day from around the world covering everything from uplifting events to updates in conflict zones.
French senators on Monday approved a revised 2026 budget bill that the government warned could worsen the country’s fiscal deficit, setting the stage for tense negotiations between parliament’s two chambers later this week.
Flooding in Bolivia’s eastern Santa Cruz region has killed at least 20 people after an overflowing river swept through multiple communities, authorities said on Monday, with the toll expected to increase as rescue teams reach areas that were previously inaccessible.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment