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EU under fire for freezing ‘Israel’ sanctions amid Gaza truce

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
21 Oct 2025 09:49
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European officials warn the bloc risks losing credibility after freezing the sanctions imposed on "Israel", as Gaza bombardment and ceasefire violations continue.

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The body of 4-year-old Palestinian, Ahmed Weshah, lies next to that of his mother Afaf Abu Jahjouh, 28, both killed after the ceasefire in an Israeli military strike on Sunday, before their funeral at Awda Hospital, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (AP)

The European Union has come under fire for suspending plans to sanction "Israel", a move linked to US President Donald Trump’s renewed Middle East peace push, as Tel Aviv continues to bomb Gaza, violating the ceasefire.

After talks with EU foreign ministers on Monday, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced a pause on efforts to freeze "Israel’s" preferential trade terms and to sanction individuals accused of fuelling the war on both sides.

“The context has changed,” Kallas said, referring to the shifting diplomatic landscape since the measures were proposed last month. Acknowledging “divergent views” among ministers, she added, “We don’t move with the measures now, but we don’t take them off the table either because the situation is fragile.”

Former EU officials warn against retreat on accountability

Two former senior EU diplomats separately criticized the bloc’s hesitation. Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, a former EU envoy to the Palestinian territories, said Kallas had missed “the point” of legal responsibility.

“Sanctions are not just a measure to induce or coerce a third party to change or adjust its behaviour. Restrictive measures are part of the tools the EU has given itself to react to breaches of both European and international law,” he told The Guardian.

In June, the EU concluded that "Israel" had violated human rights obligations under its association agreement governing trade and cooperation. Legal experts also argue the bloc must align its policies with a 2024 International Court of Justice opinion calling on "Israel" to end its occupation of Palestinian territories “as soon as possible.”

Diplomats urge 'robust' action against spoilers

Burgsdorff co-authored a recent statement, signed by 414 former senior diplomats and officials, urging firm EU action “against spoilers and extremists on both sides” who threaten prospects for a future Palestinian state.

While the statement welcomed "Trump’s peace plan", it warned that Palestinian self-determination was only “vaguely addressed".

Nathalie Tocci, a former advisor to two EU foreign policy chiefs, said abandoning sanctions would send the wrong signal.

“That is the last thing that we should be doing, because this is exactly the moment when you need to keep the pressure on,” she told The Guardian. “Because we all know that it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion that this plan will be implemented.”

Tocci added that she feared “European governments and institutions will be … reverting back to the sort of old, familiar patterns.”

Divisions within EU deepen ahead of summit

European leaders are due to discuss the Israeli war on Gaza at a summit on Thursday, amid longstanding internal divisions over West Asia. Spain and Ireland have been outspoken advocates for Palestinian statehood, while Hungary and the Czech Republic remain strong backers of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The European Commission’s proposals last month to suspend trade privileges and impose sanctions followed widespread public protests across member states over the humanitarian toll in Gaza.

Senior EU officials have pushed back on the recurring charge that the bloc is “a payer, not a player” in Middle East diplomacy, a reference to its €1.5 billion (£1.3 billion) in humanitarian aid to Palestinians since October 7, contrasted with its limited political influence.

EU policymakers argue the bloc should hold a seat on Trump’s proposed “board of peace”, given its likely role in Gaza’s reconstruction, estimated at $70 billion (£52 billion). They also want Gulf nations to share funding responsibilities for rebuilding after the two-year war.

Leaked paper highlights gaps in Trump’s plan

Although the EU has welcomed Trump’s plan, a leaked internal paper seen by The Guardian says the proposal leaves several core issues unresolved. It suggests the role of the Palestinian Authority and the "two-state" solution need to be “further elaborated", noting that the plan “does not address the situation in the West Bank.”

Burgsdorff stressed the importance of an active EU diplomatic presence to ensure “the missing links” in Trump’s plan are filled, particularly on West Bank settlements and a credible pathway toward "two states".

“We need to work on a very robust UN mandate, a mandate which allows international partners to field soldiers, security forces to ensure the security in the Gaza Strip,” he said.

Egypt is expected to lead a proposed international "stabilization" force, with possible contributions from Turkey, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan. EU leaders, who have praised Cairo’s mediation efforts, are set to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Brussels on Wednesday.

EU urged to match its financial clout with political ambition

“The EU has an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that we are moving beyond ‘paying’,” Burgsdorff said. “We need to move up the ladder and have political ambition.”

Claudio Francavilla, associate EU director at Human Rights Watch, echoed that view, accusing European governments of continuing to shield "Israel" from accountability.

Responding to Kallas’ statement, he said, “What may have changed so far is the scale and the intensity of Israel’s atrocity crimes in Gaza; but its unlawful occupation and crimes of apartheid, forced displacement, torture and oppression of Palestinians continue unabated.”