Israel’s Allies Threaten Sanctions Over Gaza

The United Kingdom on Tuesday suspended trade negotiations with Israel, while the European Union pledged to review its trade accord and ties with the country, increasing pressure on Israel to halt its new military offensive and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after an 11-week blockade, the Washington Post reported.  

The British government said it would continue its existing trade pact with Israel but that the “egregious policies” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza and the West Bank have made it impossible to “advance discussions” on a new free trade agreement.  

In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc of 27 countries, Israel’s largest trading partner, would begin a formal review of its trade accord with Israel.  

The European moves follow threats by France, the UK and Canada Monday to implement “targeted sanctions” and other “concrete actions” against Israel, Reuters reported. 

The British, French, and Canadian leaders said in a joint statement that the humanitarian situation in the enclave is “intolerable,” and called on Israel to halt its new, intensified campaign, which comes after a months-long blockade and has involved a fresh wave of ground assaults and air strikes intended to take control of the enclave by displacing Gaza’s residents to areas in the south. There, the Israeli military and US security contractors would control the delivery of aid through distribution hubs and maintain strict limits on food. 

“Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7,” wrote Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of the UK, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. “We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.”  

They warned that “the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law.”  

The trio also said they opposed the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, adding that they “will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.” 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response that the three were offering a “prize” to Hamas with their statement. 

“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa (sic) and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities,” Netanyahu wrote on X. 

He insisted that Israel would defend itself until total victory was achieved, all the hostages were released, and the Gaza Strip was demilitarized. 

The European trade moves and the joint statements came less than a week after Israel launched a new military offensive in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas and increasing further pressure on the group to return the remaining hostages taken after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.  

Gazan health officials reported more than 300 people have been killed in the new operations, according to the Associated Press. 

Amid the offensive, Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would allow a “basic amount of food” to enter the enclave.  

Despite pressure from his far-right government allies, he explained the decision came after pressure from the country’s closest allies, MercoPress added. 

However, the UK, France, and Canada described Israel’s move as “wholly inadequate,” while reiterating their support for a ceasefire and recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution to the conflict. 

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from Germany, Italy, and 19 other countries separately called for Israel to allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza by the United Nations and other international aid groups.