Divided EU Considers Action Against Israel Over Gaza War
BRUSSELS: European Union foreign ministers met on Tuesday to explore possible actions against Israel over its ongoing war in Gaza. However, divisions within the 27-member bloc appear to be hindering consensus on any decisive move.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented a list of 10 potential measures, following Israel’s alleged breach of its cooperation agreement with the EU on human rights grounds. Proposed steps range from suspending the entire agreement and restricting trade to imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers, enforcing an arms embargo, and halting visa-free travel for Israeli citizens.
Despite mounting outrage over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, diplomats say there is insufficient support among member states to move forward with any of the proposed actions. “I can’t predict how the discussion will go,” Kallas said ahead of the Brussels meeting, noting that the main focus would likely center on addressing Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
Kallas cited a recent agreement with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to improve humanitarian access, including opening more border crossings and increasing aid deliveries. “We see some positive signs — border crossings reopening, reconstruction of electricity lines, increased water supply, and more humanitarian aid trucks,” she said on Monday. “But the situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We need to see more tangible improvement on the ground.”
Gaza, home to around two million residents, continues to face extreme shortages of food, electricity, and medical aid, with Israel maintaining tight controls on supplies during its military campaign against Hamas.
Speaking in Brussels, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the possibility of EU sanctions. “I’m sure not any of them will be adopted by the EU member states. There’s no justification whatsoever,” he said.
While the EU has stopped short of taking concrete steps, even reaching the point of formally reviewing its cooperation agreement with Israel marks a significant shift. The move only came after Israel resumed full-scale military operations in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire in March.
Long-standing divisions persist within the EU, with countries like Hungary continuing to oppose tougher measures against Israel. French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot renewed calls for sanctions on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, but Hungarian resistance is expected to block any such proposal.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in 1,219 deaths—mostly civilians and the capture of 251 hostages, 49 of whom remain in Gaza, including 27 presumed dead according to the Israeli military.
In response, Israel launched an intense military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 58,386 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. The United Nations considers these figures credible.
As EU ministers continue their discussions, the challenge remains how to reconcile diverging national positions with the bloc’s stated commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.
