EU wants to scrap part of trade treaty with Israel; Netherlands working on import ban
Europe is working on taking more action against Israel in its ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The European Commission wants to suspend part of the association agreement with Israel and impose sanctions against “extreme ministers and violent settlers.” The Netherlands has teamed up with several other EU countries to work on national measures to restrict imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In her annual speech to the European Parliament, broadcast live on the European Commission’s website, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pushed for suspending part of the trade treaty and imposing sanctions on Israel. The Dutch government has been pushing for this, given the situation in Gaza.
Von der Leyen said that the European Union “cannot afford to remain paralyzed” in response to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. “What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,” she said. “People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic.”
“We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers, and we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters.” The European Commission is suspending all direct aid and payments to Israel, Von der Leyen also said. She will seek majority support for these measures, acknowledging that this will be a difficult task given how divided the member states are on this issue.
The Netherlands is also taking measures on its own initiative, teaming up with several EU countries to restrict imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, caretaker Minister David van Weel of Foreign Affairs wrote to parliament. He did not specify when the measure will take effect, though he previously warned that an import ban can’t be arranged overnight, ANP reports.
The caretaker Dutch government is also investigating how aid can be provided to countries in the region that are treating patients from Gaza. According to Van Weel, reception in the Netherlands is not an option, but the government is exploring sending medical expertise “for complex healthcare needs for which there is limited treatment capacity in the region.”
This year, the Dutch government is providing €25 million for aid to people from Gaza, Van Weel said, calling it “a substantial contribution to the humanitarian medical needs in Gaza.” He will also reopen the contact point where medically qualified personnel and other parties can report if they wish to provide aid in the region.
As of September 9, Israel has killed at least 64,605 people in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported based on the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. At least 19,424 of the people killed were children and babies. Some 163,096 people are injured. The war started in response to a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,139 people.
In addition to its attacks on the region, Israel is also blocking aid from entering the Palestinian territory in any significant amounts. At least 393 people have starved to death in the Gaza Strip, including 140 children.
On Monday, Israel also committed an airstrike in Doha, Dubai, saying it was targeting Hamas. Minister Van Weel condemned the attack. “The sovereignty of states must be respected, he wrote on X. “Moreover, the attack does not help bring a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas any closer.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ANP that the Dutch embassy is not located in the affected area. The residence is, but it was not damaged in the attack. “Our colleagues at the embassy are naturally shocked, but are doing well under the circumstances. We are closely monitoring the situation and are in constant contact with our staff on the ground.”
