After 22 Months Of Israel’s Genocide, The EU Is Finally Proposing To Sanction Israel
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the proposal in her State of the Union address, where in a rare move, she denounced Israel’s man-made famine in Gaza.
After 22 months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the European Union is finally proposing to suspend payments and trade agreements in Israel.
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union address, and in a rare move, denounced Israel’s man-made famine in Gaza.
“What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,” she said. “Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity, this must stop.”
She said what is happening in Gaza is “unacceptable” and understood European citizens’ frustrations over the bloc’s inaction.
She said that several European countries had take actions on their own and acknowledged that Europe must do more.
She said that as such, she is proposing to sanction extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers, freeze most bilateral EU funds to Israel and partially suspend Israel’s preferential trade access to European markets.
She also raised the possibility of cutting Israel from EU research programs such as Horizon Europe.
The measures would pause EU money flowing into Israeli state institutions and suspend parts of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which gives Israeli exports reduced tariffs in Europe.
In 2023, trade between the EU and Israel was worth nearly €46 billion, which is more than the annual GDP of countries like Croatia.
Israel’s government has called the proposals “lamentable,” claiming they would “strengthen Hamas”.
The proposed sanctions will now go to EU member states for debate.
Several European countries have already taken steps to sanction Israel and support Palestine, including Spain, France, Slovenia and Belgium.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza has now killed more than 64,718 Palestinians, more than 83% of whom are civilians, and Gaza City is now in a man-made famine created by Israel.
Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
Sofia Hou
