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EU Divided Over Israel Sanctions Amid Gaza War Concerns

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Margarita Baskakova
Margarita Baskakova
International Managing Editor
The 27 EU foreign ministers agreed to postpone action against Israel after reviewing 10 response options to its alleged breach of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on Palestinian human rights.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (left) greets Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar with a handshake during the EU-Israel Association Council meeting at the European Council. Photo: The Associated Press

The European Union has delayed imposing sanctions on Israel over its conduct in Gaza, prompting sharply contrasting reactions from Israeli and Palestinian officials, as reports Euronews.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the EU’s decision a «diplomatic feat,» praising European allies for rejecting «obsessive attempts» to penalize Israel. In contrast, Palestinian representative Varsen Aghabekian-Shahin described the move as «shocking and disappointing,» citing a recent EU report identifying 38 violations of Palestinian rights.

Despite evidence of humanitarian violations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said that sanctions remain «on the table» should Israel fail to uphold its commitments.

The developments came during a high-level EU-Southern Neighbourhood summit in Brussels — the first such meeting with both Israeli and Palestinian officials since the October 7 Hamas attacks. Tensions remain high, with both sides refusing to engage directly.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Defence Secretary John Healey has issued a formal apology in Parliament for a massive 2022 data leak involving Afghans who sought relocation to the UK due to ties with British force.

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