European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she will push for sanctions on Israeli ministers over Gaza. She also called for cutting some trade ties with Israel. Her strong statement came as Gaza faces famine and rising civilian deaths.
Von der Leyen spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She said the EU cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza. The violence, she said, has “shaken the conscience of the world.” She described heartbreaking scenes of mothers holding dead babies and people killed while begging for food.
The EU chief wants to freeze payments to Israel under current bilateral agreements. However, she said funding for civil groups and Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, will continue. She also wants sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and settlers accused of inciting violence.
Furthermore, she called for a partial suspension of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel. But she admitted that such steps need approval from all 27 EU member states. Many are divided on how to respond to the war. Von der Leyen warned that inaction would be unacceptable.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people. Israel’s military response has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to UN-trusted data. The UN says 500,000 people in Gaza now face extreme hunger and famine.