Strasbourg, France (AP) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that it plans to call for sanctions and partial trade halts Israel on the war in Gaza.
The 27 EU countries are deeply divided into approaches to Israel and Palestinians, and it is unclear whether the majority are known to support sanctions and trade measures.
Von Der Leyen adds that the committee will “establish the Palestinamba Group next month,” some of which will focus on future reconstruction of Gaza. She said the events in Gaza and the suffering of children and families are “shaking the conscience of the world.”
“Artificial hunger can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop,” she added.
Von Der Leyen’s comments came the next day Israeli troops warned residents of Gaza to evacuate Hundreds of thousands of people remain under conditions of hunger ahead of plans to control what it portrays as Hamas’ last remaining hub.
The warning came before an on Tuesday Israel strikes targeting Hamas leaders in QatarNegotiations to end the war in Gaza were stagnant. The warning directed towards Gaza city calls for the first full evacuation.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants lured 251 people on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200, mostly Israeli civilians. The 48 hostages are still being held within Gaza, and it is believed that around 20 of them are alive.
Israeli retaliatory attacks have killed at least 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Approximately half of those killed were women and children.
Most of the metropolitan cities have been completely destroyed, with about 90% of the roughly 2 million Palestinians being displaced.
