Citing an unbearable level of human suffering in Gaza, the European Union has rolled out a sweeping plan of sanctions and tariffs against Israel, framing the move as an urgent humanitarian intervention. EU officials have stressed that the primary goal is to compel a change in Israeli policy to end a war that has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives.
“The war needs to end, the suffering must stop, and all hostages must be released,” declared EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at a press conference in Brussels. She was clear that the proposed measures, including sanctions on top Israeli ministers, were not intended to be punitive toward the Israeli populace but were a tool to pressure its government.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has fueled widespread public protests across Europe, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, increasing pressure on Brussels to take more decisive action. The EU’s perceived inability to meaningfully influence Israel to allow more humanitarian aid and halt military operations has been a source of growing public and political criticism.
In response, the new proposal would impose tariffs on Israeli goods and freeze the European assets of key officials and settlers. The plan follows a recent shift from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, after maintaining a strong pro-Israel stance, called for European pressure over the military campaign.
Israel denies that it is blocking humanitarian aid and rejects claims of starvation in Gaza, attributing the dire conditions to logistical challenges and Hamas’s actions. This fundamental disagreement over the reality on the ground continues to fuel the diplomatic impasse, with the EU now using economic and political leverage to enforce its view of the crisis.