Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “problem", vowing to push for stronger European Union pressure on the Israeli occupation over its war on Gaza and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

“Netanyahu is now a problem in himself,” Frederiksen told Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in an interview published Saturday. She criticized the Israeli government for going “too far", pointing to the “absolutely appalling and catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Gaza and renewed settlement construction in the West Bank.

Frederiksen said Denmark, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, would seek to rally member states behind stronger measures. “We are one of the countries that wants to increase pressure on Israel, but we have not yet obtained the support of EU members,” she said.

Sanctions not ruled out

The Danish leader suggested that the bloc should consider political pressure and potential sanctions, including measures targeting settlers, ministers, or even broader restrictions on trade and research cooperation with the Israeli regime.

“We are not ruling anything out in advance. Just as with Russia, we are designing the sanctions to target where we believe they will have the greatest effect,” Frederiksen said.

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Denmark is not among the European countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state but Frederiksen emphasized that her government intends to push for stronger EU-level action.

Thousands need evacuation

The Director of the Network of NGOs in Gaza, Amjad al-Shawa, warned Friday that more than 15,000 patients and wounded individuals in the besieged Palestinian territory are in urgent need of medical evacuation abroad to receive life-saving treatment.

Al-Shawa urged the international community to act immediately to save lives by facilitating the transfer of patients and sending field hospitals to Gaza. He stressed that the Strip faces a severe shortage of medical equipment and medicines, as the ongoing Israeli blockade continues to deepen the humanitarian crisis.

Backed and supported by the United States, the Israeli occupation has waged a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, 2023. The assault has included mass killings, starvation, widespread destruction, and the forced displacement of residents, in defiance of international positions and rulings by the International Court of Justice calling for an end to these violations.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the aggression has so far killed more than 61,776 Palestinians, injured over 154,906 others, and left more than 9,000 missing. The war has also displaced hundreds of thousands of people and triggered a severe food crisis, which has caused the deaths of many, including numerous children.

Gaza famine death toll hits 235

Meanwhile, the Israeli-made famine ravages through Gaza, killing 235, including 106 children, as the humanitarian situation reaches catastrophic levels.

Under the ongoing tightened blockade, complete closure of crossings, and the Israeli occupation’s ban on the entry of food and medicine, hospitals and health centers across Gaza are facing an unprecedented crisis. More than 2.4 million civilians, including over 1.2 million children, are enduring severe hunger and malnutrition.

According to official ministry data, the fatalities include 129 adults, among them 19 women, 75 elderly individuals, and 35 men over the age of 18.

The starvation crisis is not limited to patients; medical staff themselves report symptoms of malnourishment. Aid workers say they are witnessing people “wasting away” among their teams, threatening their ability to provide care.