EU members Sweden and Netherlands urge sanctions against Israel and Hamas by the European Union
Swedish and Dutch foreign ministers, Maria Malmer Stenergard and Ruben Brekelmans, respectively, have called for targeted sanctions against far-right ministers in the Israeli cabinet and the political leadership of Hamas. The call for sanctions, made in a letter dated August 27, emphasises the need to swiftly implement targeted sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers.
The topic of these sanctions will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen this Saturday. The letter also requests the EU foreign service to propose additional ways to increase pressure on Hamas, which currently holds power in the Gaza Strip.
The letter recalls the need for sanctions against Israeli government ministers promoting illegal settlement activities and working against a negotiated two-state solution. This call comes in response to these Israeli ministers pushing for the annexation of illegally occupied Palestinian territories.
The suspension of sanctions would affect free trade in several sectors, notably industry and agriculture, by suspending the commercial section of an association accord between the EU and Israel.
Hamas, which is banned as a "terrorist" organisation by the EU and many Western nations, has been under scrutiny for its role in the ongoing conflict. The UN officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming Israel for systematically obstructing aid during more than 22 months of war.
The EU External Action Service, during discussions with the foreign ministers of Sweden and the Netherlands on Saturday in Copenhagen, engaged in talks about further sanctions against Russia and discussed the EU's stance regarding Israel, including possible sanction measures and responses to the escalating violence. The meeting took place informally in the Gymnich format, and a joint press conference is planned with the Danish Foreign Minister and the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas post-meeting.
Notably, Caspar Veldkamp, the former Netherlands' foreign minister, resigned last week due to disagreements within the Dutch cabinet over new national sanctions against Israel. Brekelmans has since replaced Veldkamp as the Netherlands' foreign minister.
The letter addressed to EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas reiterates the urgency for action to address tensions in the region and emphasises the need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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