EU proposal would suspend Israel trade benefits, sanction ministers over Gaza war
The European Commission has proposed suspending trade concessions with Israel and imposing sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers, citing breaches of human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The Commission announced the measures would remove Israel’s preferential access to EU markets while targeting what Brussels called violations of democratic principles and human rights commitments.
‘The horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis must stop,’ Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, calling for ‘an immediate ceasefire, unrestrained access for all humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas’.
The Commission found that Israeli government actions represent a breach of the Association Agreement with Israel, specifically citing ‘the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following the military intervention of Israel, the blockade of humanitarian aid, the intensifying of military operations and the decision of the Israeli authorities to advance the settlement plan in the so-called E1 area of the West Bank’.
Under the proposed suspension, Israeli goods coming into the EU would face standard third-country tariffs, losing their preferential status. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for 32% of Israel’s total goods trade worth €42.6 billion, or $45.5 billion, in 2024, according to the Commission.
The EU is also putting bilateral support to Israel on hold, affecting future allocations of approximately €6 million annually between 2025 and 2027, plus €14 million in institutional cooperation projects. Support for Israeli civil society and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial will continue.
The sanctions package targets Israeli ministers and violent settlers with nine total listing proposals under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, plus ten Hamas politburo members under reinforced Hamas sanctions criteria.
High Representative Kaja Kallas said the measures would ‘send a strong message from the European Union: this war must end, the suffering must stop, and the hostages must be released’.
The Council must approve the trade suspension by qualified majority and sanctions by unanimity. Once adopted, the suspension takes effect 30 days after notification to the EU-Israel Association Council.
The proposal escalates European pressure on Israel following similar measures by individual Member States. Spain announced nine anti-Israel measures earlier this month, including arms embargo consolidation, while multiple EU countries have imposed varying degrees of arms export restrictions since October 2023.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2112
