EU proposes sanctions against Israel amid Gaza conflict

On September 10, 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, announced plans for sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This statement marked a significant shift in her stance, as she has been a long-time supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Von der Leyen's remarks came during her State of the Union address in Strasbourg, where she highlighted the humanitarian crisis stemming from the war, including the suffering of children and families affected by the conflict. She specifically referenced alarming reports from the Gaza Health Ministry regarding rising malnutrition rates and fatalities among civilians, including children. Since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants abducted hundreds of people and killed over a thousand others, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. The Israeli military issued warnings to residents in Gaza City, urging them to evacuate as they prepared to conduct further strikes against Hamas, alleging that their operations targeted the group's leadership. However, these military actions have faced backlash from numerous nations, including concerns about a humanitarian disaster as reports of famine conditions emerged in the region. In light of the rising casualties, including the reported deaths of 126 Palestinians due to malnutrition and the impact of military operations, von der Leyen expressed that the global community's moral compass has been profoundly shaken. She emphasized that man-made famine should never be considered a valid weapon of war, pushing the EU to reevaluate its financial support to Israel while maintaining assistance directed towards humanitarian work and civil society initiatives. In response to von der Leyen’s announcement, reactions from EU members have been mixed. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul acknowledged the decision while awaiting further specifics, stressing that Israel's conduct was unacceptable. Meanwhile, other officials, such as German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, voiced skepticism, arguing against withholding funds and calling for continued support for Israel. This debate shines a light on the tensions within the EU regarding its stance towards Israel and the broader implications of this conflict, revealing differing attitudes among member states towards the necessity of balancing support for Israel against humanitarian considerations in Gaza.