Brussels: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Monday that the European Union is retaining the option of sanctioning Israeli occupation. This decision aims to maintain leverage and ensure the complete implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kallas addressed a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. She stated, “The ceasefire has changed the context, that is very clear for everybody. However, unless we see real and sustained change on the ground, including more aid reaching Gaza, the threat of sanctions remains on the table.” Kallas emphasized that while the EU will not currently proceed with the sanctions, they remain a possibility due to the fragile situation.
Kallas elaborated that previous proposals included measures such as “blacklisting ministers and curbing trade ties,” which were considered before the truce facilitated by US President Donald Trump. The EU expects Israeli occupation to implement specific actions, including enhancing humanitarian aid access to Gaza, transferring revenues to the Palestinian Authority, allowing journalistic access to Gaza, and registering NGOs.
Furthermore, Kallas highlighted the EU’s role as the largest financial supporter of the Palestinian Authority and Gaza’s major humanitarian donor. She mentioned that the EU’s border assistance mission is prepared to deploy and that ministers discussed ways the EU could support the peace plan with governance and reconstruction assistance. She also noted that the EU is exploring increased post-war involvement in Gaza, with plans to reactivate its mission to supervise the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, pending the reopening of the route.