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EU nations divided on sanctioning Israel for Gaza war as FMs meet

EU Nations Divided Over Sanctions on Israel as Foreign Ministers Meet in Copenhagen

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago06 mins

Published By Kamal Yalwa: on August 30, 2025 European Union foreign ministers are grappling with deep divisions over the appropriate response to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. The ministers convened in Copenhagen on Saturday, August 30, to discuss potential punitive measures as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies. The meeting comes amid growing calls from within the EU to take stronger action against Israel following allegations of war crimes, including civilian deaths and man-made starvation across the besieged Palestinian enclave. One of the primary issues on the agenda was a proposal to suspend EU funding for Israeli start-ups, which would serve as an initial form of punitive action. However, sources indicate that the proposal has yet to gain the majority support needed to move forward, with significant resistance from some EU countries. Deepening Divisions Within the EU The EU remains deeply divided on the issue. Countries like Spain and Ireland have been vocal in urging for more significant measures to pressure Israel, arguing that the EU has been too slow and ineffective in its response to the Gaza conflict. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the EU’s actions as “too little too late,” and emphasized the need for stronger measures to bring an end to the violence in Gaza. On the other hand, Israel’s staunch allies within the EU, including Germany and Hungary, are reluctant to impose any substantial sanctions, preferring instead to maintain dialogue. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has notably expressed a desire to avoid punitive measures, citing the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels open. Humanitarian Concerns and Calls for Sanctions Ahead of the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen echoed calls for a stronger EU response, stating, “We are witnessing the most catastrophic humanitarian catastrophe. Israel must change its course.” He proposed suspending the trade chapter of the EU-Israel association agreement and imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key members of his government. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas expressed skepticism over the likelihood of a unified decision, noting, “I’m not very optimistic, and today we are definitely not going to adopt decisions. It sends a signal that we are divided.” The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened in recent weeks, with alarming reports of famine and increasing civilian casualties. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), working with the UN, recently declared a famine in Gaza, a finding rejected by Israel despite mounting evidence. Growing Pressure From European Citizens Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Copenhagen, noted that public opinion across Europe is shifting. “There is a change of mood on the streets of Europe,” he said, highlighting growing frustration among citizens over the EU’s failure to effectively address the Gaza crisis and enforce international humanitarian law. Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, called for a collective EU stance on Gaza, stating, “What is happening there is haunting me and should haunt all of us. This is a tragedy, and we will be judged by history.” In addition to the discussions on Gaza, EU foreign ministers are also expected to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. One contentious issue involves the use of frozen Russian assets, estimated at around €210 billion ($245.85 billion), which some EU members—particularly Poland and the Baltic States—are advocating to be confiscated and redirected to aid Ukraine. However, key EU nations, including France and Germany, have opposed this move, urging caution. As EU ministers continue to meet, the bloc remains divided on how to approach Israel’s military actions in Gaza. While some EU members push for stronger sanctions, others call for restraint. The outcome of these discussions will not only impact EU-Israel relations but also determine the future of European involvement in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

35 Palestinians killed as Israeli attacks on Gaza City intensify

35 Palestinians Killed as Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Gaza City

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: 30 August, 2025 Graphic Content WarningTOPSHOT – Palestinians mourn the loss of two children outside al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, where casualties of Israeli fire were transported ahead of their funerals on August 29, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) Heavy Israeli bombardment has continued to strike Gaza City early on Saturday, August 30, 2025, as Israel progresses with its plan to seize a larger portion of the besieged Palestinian territory. At least 35 Palestinians have been confirmed dead since dawn, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, including four aid seekers who were caught in the crossfire. Latest Casualties and Damage Since Friday, 66 people were killed and 345 wounded across Gaza. The humanitarian toll has continued to rise, with 63,371 people killed and 159,835 wounded since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. The Ministry has also reported that since Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18, 11,240 Palestinians have been killed and 47,794 injured. The last 24 hours have seen particularly devastating losses: Rising Humanitarian Crisis The intensification of the airstrikes has left many seeking shelter, as food, medicine, and essential supplies continue to dwindle. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, many of whom are civilians and vulnerable aid recipients. As Israeli forces target strategic areas in Gaza, aid organizations have struggled to reach those in dire need of assistance. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire to allow for the safe delivery of aid and medical supplies. This ongoing conflict, marked by immense loss of life and destruction, has sparked international condemnation and calls for renewed peace efforts. The devastating humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by the growing scarcity of resources, leaving thousands in desperate need of food, water, and medical care.

Israeli attacks kill 51 in Gaza as more Palestinians die from starvation

Israeli Attacks Kill 51 in Gaza as Starvation Deaths Rise Amid Declared Famine

Fola Badmus4 weeks ago4 weeks ago05 mins

Gaza Strip – At least 51 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military attacks across the Gaza Strip, including 16 civilians seeking humanitarian aid, amid mounting concerns over famine and worsening conditions in the besieged enclave. According to medical sources, Israeli artillery shelled tents sheltering displaced families in the Asdaa area northwest of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing 16 people, including six children, on Saturday. Elsewhere: Hunger Crisis Deepens Gaza’s Health Ministry also reported eight new starvation-related deaths, including two children, over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of malnutrition-related fatalities to 281 since the onset of the humanitarian crisis. Of those, at least 114 were children, according to Munir al-Bursh, Director-General of the ministry. “The famine is silently ravaging the bodies of civilians, depriving children of their right to life, and turning tents and hospitals into daily scenes of tragedy,” al-Bursh wrote on social media. The United Nations on Friday formally declared a famine in Gaza – the first time such a classification has been made in the Middle East. The declaration follows months of warnings from humanitarian agencies and growing accusations that Israel is obstructing aid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the crisis as a “man-made disaster,” while the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said over 514,000 Palestinians are already facing famine-level hunger. That number could rise to 641,000 by the end of September. Mounting Death Toll, Aid Blockades Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 2,076 Palestinians have been killed and over 15,300 injured while seeking aid since Israel implemented its “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (GHF) mechanism on May 27 — a unilateral aid system backed by the US and Israel but rejected by the UN and major relief groups. In total, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — launched after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel — has killed more than 62,600 Palestinians, according to health officials in the territory. “Engineering of Starvation” In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry welcomed the famine declaration but criticized the timing: “We emphasise that the engineering of starvation is one aspect of the chapters of genocide, which also include the systematic destruction of the health sector, mass killing, and the policy of exterminating generations,” the ministry said on Telegram. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said many Gazans believe the UN famine declaration came too late. “They have been witnessing weeks and months of this ongoing starvation,” she said. Amid widespread destruction, collapsed infrastructure, and dwindling humanitarian access, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to escalate, with hundreds of thousands facing the daily threat of starvation, bombardment, and displacement.

Israel Kills 24 Palestinians in Gaza Since Dawn

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago01 mins

Israeli forces have killed at least 24 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn, including five children and five people seeking aid, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The latest casualties come amid ongoing global protests over Israel’s targeted assassination of four Al Jazeera journalists and two freelancers in Gaza. A Hamas delegation has arrived in Egypt for further talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, even as Israel advances its plan to seize Gaza City, forcibly displace nearly one million Palestinians, and confine them to designated zones in the south. Since the start of the war, at least 61,599 Palestinians have been killed and 154,088 wounded in Gaza. In Israel, an estimated 1,139 people were killed during the October 7, 2023 attacks, with more than 200 taken captive.

Over 600 Starving Palestinians Die in 5 Weeks at GHF Sites in Gaza

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

More than 600 Palestinians have reportedly died from starvation and related complications over the past five weeks at aid distribution points operated by the Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the Gaza Strip. The alarming toll reflects the worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave, where continued Israeli bombardments and aid restrictions have left large swaths of the population without access to food, clean water, or medical care. Local health authorities and humanitarian workers say the majority of the victims were children, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions who were unable to withstand the prolonged deprivation. Many died while waiting in line at GHF distribution sites or shortly after receiving insufficient aid. GHF officials have blamed the deaths on a combination of relentless air raids, blocked aid convoys, and the collapse of supply chains. “The scale of suffering is unimaginable,” one field coordinator said. “People are dying not just from bombs, but from hunger and neglect.” International rights groups have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and full access to deliver food and medical supplies to affected areas, warning that Gaza is on the brink of mass famine if urgent action is not taken. The Israeli government has not commented on the latest death toll, though it has previously accused aid groups of failing to ensure that supplies do not reach Hamas fighters—a claim aid agencies deny, citing strict monitoring mechanisms.