‘Sending wrong message’: Israel slams EU chief over Gaza stance; commission pushes for sanctions, trade freeze

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (AP)

Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, on Wednesday hit back at European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen after she vowed to push for sanctions against “extremist” Israeli ministers and curb trade ties over the worsening crisis in Gaza.“The remarks made this morning by the President of the European Commission are regrettable. Some of them also echo the false propaganda of Hamas and its partners,” Saar wrote on X.“Once again, Europe is sending the wrong message, which strengthens Hamas and the radical axis in the Middle East,” he added.Von der Leyen on Wednesday announced plans to pursue sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel over the war in Gaza, a notable shift from her long-standing support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.“Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop,” she said at a meeting in Strasbourg, France. Von der Leyen announced that the commission “will set up a Palestine donor group next month,” which will partly focus on Gaza’s future reconstruction. She noted that the situation in Gaza and the suffering endured by children and families “has shaken the conscience of the world.” Given the deep divisions within the 27-member bloc over its position on Israel and the Palestinians, it remains uncertain whether sufficient consensus can be reached to approve the proposed measures.Von der Leyen, however, further announced plans to suspend EU executive branch support to Israel, a step that does not require approval from the 27 member states.“We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas, without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem,” the Holocaust memorial, von der Leyen told EU lawmakers, as cited by AP.Von der Leyen’s remarks came a day after Israel’s military urged residents of Gaza City to evacuate, ahead of its planned operation to seize what it describes as Hamas’ final stronghold, where hundreds of thousands continue to endure famine-like conditions.The evacuation order for Gaza City came before an Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar’s capital, in what is being described as a “targeted strike” against senior Hamas officials. Qatari authorities denounced the strikes as a “cowardly assault” on residential buildings sheltering Hamas leaders and cautioned that such attacks risk triggering a dangerous escalation.According to Gaza’s health ministry, 126 Palestinians, among them 26 children, have died from malnutrition-related causes since international experts declared a famine in Gaza City on August 22. These deaths are part of a wider toll of 404 people, including 141 children, who have succumbed to malnutrition since the war began nearly two years ago.