NATURAL NEWS

• The European Commission has proposed suspending preferential trade provisions under the EU‑Israel Association Agreement, affecting about 37 percent of Israeli goods exported to the EU, worth around €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion), which currently enjoy zero or reduced tariffs.
• Sanctions are recommended against specific Israeli figures and groups: far‑right ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, "violent settlers" and associated organizations, as well as ten senior members of Hamas.
• The proposals follow a review that found violations by Israel of key obligations under the Association Agreement (especially Article 2), including respecting human rights, democratic principles, blocking humanitarian aid, carrying out military operations in Gaza and advancing settlement expansion in the West Bank's E1 area.
• Implementation of the trade suspensions would require a "qualified majority" among EU member states (at least 65 percent of the population). Sanctions on individuals require unanimous approval by all 27 member states.
• Some EU funding and cooperation with Israel would be paused (except for civil society and Holocaust memorial initiatives such as Yad Vashem), pending the outcome of these sanctions. There is uncertainty whether the proposals will pass due to internal disagreements among EU countries.

Under the proposal, the EU seeks to suspend core trade‐related provisions of the EU‑Israel Association Agreement. This would remove duty‑free access for a substantial proportion of Israeli exports to the EU – about 37 percent of goods currently benefiting under the agreement. Some €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) of Israeli exports would thus be subject to standard World Trade Organization (WTO)‑style tariffs, in contrast to their current preferential status. (Related: EU states considering SANCTIONS against Israel for defiance against ICJ ceasefire order.)

Beyond trade measures, the sanctions package would impose restrictions – including travel bans and asset freezes – on two far‑right Israeli ministers: National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Violent settlers and associated entities are also slated for sanctions, alongside ten senior leaders within Hamas.

EU officials emphasized that the proposals are driven by mounting evidence that Israel has breached essential elements of the Association Agreement – specifically its obligations regarding human rights and democratic principles. Among the factors cited are the intensification of military operations in Gaza, restrictions on humanitarian aid access and the ongoing settlement expansion, particularly in sensitive areas like E1 of the West Bank.

Brussels insists measures are "necessary and proportionate" as Israel condemns response

Speaking in Brussels, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said that while the aim is "not to punish Israel," the bloc must attempt to alleviate the suffering in Gaza by pressuring the Israeli government to change its policies. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic called the suspension of trade concessions "necessary and proportionate," given the humanitarian crisis.

For the proposal to take effect, trade suspensions must be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states – meaning at least 65 percent of the EU's population must agree. Sanctions on individuals require unanimous backing from all 27 member states.

The trade agreement suspension would go into force 30 days after notifying the EU‑Israel Association Council, following its adoption by the Council of the EU. Meanwhile, bilateral EU support to the Israeli government will be put on hold – excluding civil society and Holocaust memorial initiatives like Yad Vashem.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the proposals as "morally and politically distorted" and warned that any action would be met with retaliation. Israel maintains that its military and policy decisions in Gaza and the West Bank are matters of national security.

As Brussels moves forward, many observers see this as a watershed moment in EU‑Israel relations, signaling that the EU is increasingly willing to translate its human rights rhetoric into economic and diplomatic pressure. Whether the sanctions will pass remains uncertain, given the divisions among member states and the high thresholds required for enforcement.

As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the EU's failure to sanction Israel for its actions in Gaza, despite swift and severe sanctions on Russia, is a glaring example of double standards that erode the bloc's moral authority and credibility. This inconsistency underscores the need for a more principled and consistent approach to human rights and international law, one that is free from the influence of political and economic considerations.

More related stories:

Iran blasts Israel with 180 ballistic missiles; Israel preparing to STRIKE BACK.

Former IDF minister admits Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza to create Greater Israel.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

EuroNews.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com