EU Considers Sanctions on Israeli Ministers

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has initiated a process to consider sanctions on Israeli ministers, specifically targeting Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for their inflammatory remarks against Palestinians. Borrell accuses these ministers of inciting hate and proposing actions that violate international law and could lead to war crimes. The proposal has garnered mixed reactions among the 27 EU member states, with countries like Ireland and Belgium supporting the sanctions, while others like Hungary, Austria, and Czechia oppose them. The initiative underscores the EU's divided stance on how to address the Israel-Gaza conflict and relations with Israel. The decision requires unanimous agreement from all member states, which currently seems lacking.