EU Divided Over Sanctions on Israel as Gaza Crisis Deepens

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, that she sees little chance of member states agreeing on sanctions against Israel, despite the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Speaking in Copenhagen on Saturday, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, she noted that the lack of consensus sends a message of division within the bloc.

The European Commission had put forward a proposal to suspend funding for Israeli start-ups, arguing that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate an EU-Israel agreement that obliges both sides to uphold human rights. Even this relatively modest measure has failed to gain traction among the 27 member states.

Countries such as Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia remain opposed to punitive steps against Israel, while others, including Ireland and Spain, are pushing for stronger action.

Germany has made its position clear. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin will not support EU sanctions against Israel at this stage. He argued that halting EU research funding would have little impact on Israel’s policies or military operations in Gaza. Instead, Germany is restricting arms deliveries to Israel, which Wadephul described as a targeted and necessary step.

Denmark, which currently chairs the EU Council, is pressing for a different approach. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has urged the bloc to bypass the unanimity rule that governs foreign policy decisions and instead rely on qualified majority voting in areas such as trade.

He pointed to the possibility of banning imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a decision that could be taken without unanimous consent. Rasmussen argued that Europe must move from words to action and warned that the unanimity rule often paralyzes EU policy, whether on Israel or on Ukraine, where Hungary has repeatedly blocked measures.

France also stressed the urgency of the situation. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the crisis in Gaza as an “absolute tragedy.” The UN’s World Food Programme has meanwhile warned that the territory, ravaged by famine, has reached a critical breaking point.

Source: Tovima.com