Borrell calls for sanctions against Israel’s national security and finance ministers

The European Union will consider imposing sanctions on Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the country’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over their remarks about residents of the Gaza Strip.

This was announced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

“While the world is working towards a ceasefire in Gaza, Minister Ben Gvir is calling for cuts in fuel supplies and aid to civilians,” Borrell wrote on the X social platform.

“Sanctions should be on the EU agenda,” Borrell said, calling on the Israeli government to “stay away from these incitements to war crimes.”

Borrell also urged Israel to show “goodwill” in ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Smotrich said earlier that the return of hostages held by Hamas, which left 2 million Palestinians starving, was “justified”. On Saturday, the leaders of the United States, Qatar and Egypt called on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on August 15. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an Israeli delegation would participate in the negotiations. Hamas has announced its refusal to participate in these operations, and Israel has pledged to eliminate the organization after the October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and captured about 250. In Israel’s retaliatory military operations, about 39,800 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip.