Von der Leyen proposes new EU sanctions against Israel over Gaza crisis

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed new sanctions against Israel, despite deep divisions among EU member states on how to respond to the situation in Gaza.

In her annual State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said, “What is happening in Gaza has shaken the world’s conscience. Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of children and humanity, this must be stopped.”

In response to the famine resulting from Israel’s assault on Gaza and restrictions on aid delivery, Brussels proposed in July to suspend some EU research funds for the Israeli private sector.

However, EU member states are deeply divided on this issue. Countries like Hungary and Germany oppose these measures, arguing that actions against Israel would block channels of communication.

“We cannot afford to be paralyzed,” said von der Leyen, adding that the Commission would “do everything in its power on its own.”

Von der Leyen announced that the Commission would suspend bilateral support to Israel but that it “will not affect our work with Israeli civil society and Israel’s Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem.”

In addition, Brussels will propose further sanctions for EU member states to adopt, including against “extremist ministers and violent settlers,” and will partially suspend Israel’s association agreement with the bloc, which covers trade.

“I am aware that it will be difficult to find a majority,” von der Leyen said, but she urged member states to “assume our own responsibilities.” While sanctions require unanimity, trade measures can be adopted with the approval of a qualified majority of member states.

However, an attempt to suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon research program had been blocked.

It is unclear how much money the Commission can suspend on its own. According to a spokesperson, most of its funds in Israel are allocated to civil society and humanitarian aid initiatives.

Von der Leyen harshly criticized the Israeli government for “financially suffocating the Palestinian Authority” and for “clearly trying to undermine the two-state solution” by expanding settlements in the West Bank. “We must not allow this to happen. The only realistic peace plan is based on two states,” she said.

She also said that the Commission would establish a Palestinian donor group with regional partners to finance the reconstruction of Gaza.

Von der Leyen was under pressure to act due to growing criticism from members of the European Parliament, large demonstrations held in European cities, and protests from Commission staff.

While von der Leyen received a standing ovation from left-wing members of the European Parliament, many members of the Social Democrats group were dressed in red to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza.