European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that she intends to pursue sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza — a significant shift in stance for the EU leader, who has long supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The European Union, made up of 27 member states, remains divided over its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. It is still uncertain whether von der Leyen will secure enough support to pass the proposed measures.
She also revealed that the Commission will establish a Palestine donor coordination group next month, which will focus in part on the reconstruction of Gaza. Von der Leyen said the devastation in Gaza, especially the suffering of children and families, had deeply affected global public opinion.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 126 Palestinians — including 26 children — have died due to hunger-related causes since a famine was declared in Gaza City by international experts on August 22.
“Famine must never be used as a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity — this must end,” von der Leyen said, receiving applause during a European Parliament session in Strasbourg.
Israeli Foreign Minister Reacts
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized von der Leyen on social media, accusing her of giving in to political pressure that, he claimed, undermines Israel’s relationship with Europe and strengthens Hamas.
Evacuation Orders in Gaza City
Von der Leyen’s remarks came after the Israeli military issued a mass evacuation order on Tuesday for Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain despite severe shortages of food and other essentials. Israel says it plans to retake what it describes as Hamas’ final stronghold.
Roughly 1 million Palestinians — about half of Gaza's total population — live in the northern region around Gaza City, according to estimates by both Israeli officials and the United Nations. Many residents have been displaced multiple times and remain uncertain about the safety of moving again.
The call for full evacuation preceded an Israeli airstrike that targeted Hamas leadership in Qatar, where ceasefire talks have stalled. The strike, conducted on the territory of a U.S. ally, drew international condemnation and heightened regional tensions, further jeopardizing efforts to end the conflict and secure the release of remaining hostages.
Hamas has claimed that its top leadership survived the strike.
EU to Freeze Support to Israel
Von der Leyen also announced plans to freeze EU bilateral support to Israel provided by the Commission, a decision that does not require approval from EU member states. It was not immediately clear how much financial aid the Commission currently provides to Israel or what the funding supports.
“We will suspend our bilateral assistance to Israel,” she told lawmakers, adding that payments will be halted in these areas but that support for Israeli civil society and institutions like Yad Vashem will continue.
The European Commission also provides funding to the Palestinian Authority.
Conflict Nearing Two-Year Mark
The war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed approximately 1,200 — mostly civilians — in southern Israel. According to Israeli authorities, 48 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, with around 20 believed to still be alive.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which has since killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, it reports that about half of the casualties were women and children. The United Nations and other international organizations generally view these figures as the most credible available.
The conflict has devastated much of Gaza’s infrastructure, with major cities reduced to rubble. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced.