The European Union is reportedly drafting a series of potential punitive measures against Israel in response to alleged violations of human rights during the military campaign in Gaza, according to sources cited by Euractiv. The proposals are expected to be shared with EU ambassadors this week.
The options under discussion include scaling back or entirely freezing the EU-Israel Association Agreement, imposing sanctions on Israeli government figures, military officers, and hardline settlers, introducing trade barriers, enacting an arms embargo, and halting joint scientific ventures.
Although some of these ideas have previously been floated in informal discussions, this marks the first instance they will be officially put forward in a written format. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to examine the proposals during a meeting on July 15. However, any sanctions would require full consensus among all 27 member nations—a scenario considered improbable due to opposition from countries such as Hungary, a vocal supporter of Israel.
The EU’s diplomatic service is reportedly acting on a recent internal assessment of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Association Agreement. The review allegedly indicated possible breaches of human rights commitments. Israeli officials have dismissed the findings, arguing they are politically charged and ignore the country’s right to defend itself against hostile threats.
In June, the European Council voiced serious concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing a high number of civilian deaths and severe food shortages. The Council also called on Israel to lift restrictions on aid deliveries—something Israel claims it has done, though reports suggest aid is still not reaching those in need.
Currently, there are no direct EU sanctions targeting the state of Israel. Previous EU actions have mainly focused on individual settlers accused of violence in the West Bank. The war, which erupted after a surprise Hamas assault in 2023, has claimed the lives of over 60,000 Palestinians and approximately 1,200 Israelis, according to official reports.
