Divisions within the EU stalled proposals to sanction Israel, as ministers in Copenhagen failed to agree on punitive measures despite growing criticism of its Gaza campaign.
The European Union’s foreign ministers met Saturday in Copenhagen to weigh punitive measures against Israel over its ongoing military campaign in Gaza—but sharp internal divisions blocked any concrete action, according to AFP.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas admitted the lack of consensus:
“I’m not very optimistic, and today we are definitely not going to adopt decisions. It sends a signal that we are divided.”
Among the proposals discussed was a suspension of EU funding to Israeli start-ups, but the measure failed to secure the required majority. Some states, led by Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, pushed for tougher steps, including:
- Suspending trade cooperation with Israel
- Sanctioning Israeli ministers labeled “far-right”
- Banning imports from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria
“The EU must change words into action,” Rasmussen insisted.
The bloc has stepped up its criticism of Israel in recent months over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In May, Kallas announced the EU would review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and by July, she warned a range of policy options were under preparation to “alleviate civilian suffering.”
Kallas, however, maintained the EU’s stance is not about punishing Israel but about addressing conditions in Gaza.
“Our aim is to really improve the situation on the ground, because the humanitarian situation is untenable,” she stressed.
For now, the failure to reach consensus highlights the EU’s internal split: some states favor a hard line against Israel, while others fear sanctions would fracture ties with Jerusalem and weaken Europe’s role as a mediator in the conflict.
