European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called for the suspension of the EU’s free trade agreement with Israel, while acknowledging Europe’s inability to halt the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Von der Leyen strongly condemned the actions of the Israeli government, particularly its plans to impose illegal settlements in the West Bank, warning that such moves would further divide the territory and fuel fresh tensions.
Speaking in Strasbourg, she also addressed the recent incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, stressing that Europe stood fully in solidarity with Poland.
The Commission President went on to propose freezing the free trade agreement with Israel in light of the critical situation in Palestine, and suggested sanctions against what she described as “overly extreme” Israeli ministers.
The European Union is Israel’s main trading partner, with annual trade in goods and services worth an estimated €68 billion. The agreement, in place since 2000, also covers cooperation in research and environmental policy.
