Borrell Calls for Sanctions on Israeli Ministers
According to the British Guardian newspaper, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, plans to bring up sanctions against Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a meeting to be held on August 29, due to their statements on halting humanitarian aid to Gaza and deliberately starving civilians.
Borrell is expected to call on the foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states that will attend the meeting to impose sanctions on the two Israeli ministers. However, it is stated that such a decision is unlikely to be made due to the informal nature of the meeting. It is stated that the proposal could cause a backlash, especially since the EU does not have a common stance against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, unlike the positions on the war in Ukraine. The possibility of Hungary and the Czech Republic vetoing such a proposal is also on the agenda.
Sources who did not disclose their names stated that Borrell aimed to “re-establish the EU’s international credibility in the Israel-Gaza issue” with this initiative. It is also noted that Borrell’s aim is to protect the EU’s credibility and show that it does not have double standards.
Controversial Statements by Israeli Ministers
Israeli far-right Minister Ben-Gvir defended the necessity of encouraging migration by occupying Gaza territory rather than a ceasefire or prisoner exchange with Hamas, and claimed that “If Israel cuts off fuel and humanitarian aid to Gaza, Hamas will surrender within two weeks. ” Another minister, Smotrich, implied at a conference held on August 5 that it was “legitimate” for the people of Gaza to live in hunger and famine for a long time as a result of the intense attacks carried out by Israel and the obstruction of humanitarianism aid since October 7, 2023.
Borrell, in a post on his X account, emphasized that these statements amounted to “incitement to war crimes” and said that sanctions against the two ministers should be on the EU’s agenda. He also announced on social media on August 16 that he would propose sanctions against certain individuals, including government officials, who encouraged the violence against the actions of Israeli settlers who attacked the village of Cit in the West Bank.
