European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday her plans to advocate for sanctions and partial trade restrictions against Israel due to its military actions in Gaza.
The EU comprises 27 member states, and there currently exists a significant division regarding their responses to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The uncertainty about achieving a majority consensus on sanctions raises questions about the EU's effectiveness in handling this international crisis.
In Qatar, rescue teams are attempting to search through the debris following an Israeli airstrike aimed at Hamas leaders who were reportedly present to discuss a ceasefire proposal brokered by the United States. The airstrike, which happened on Tuesday, has been met with widespread international denunciation.
The Soufan Center, a think tank based in New York, has indicated that the Israeli strike poses severe strategic risks, potentially undermining diplomatic relations forged under the Abraham Accords.
Von der Leyen recently expressed her distress regarding the humanitarian suffering in Gaza during a session in the European Parliament, emphasizing that “man-made famine can never be a weapon of war.”
In a separate statement, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned Israel’s actions in Qatar, advocating for a return to negotiations aimed at establishing a ceasefire.
Qatari officials echoed similar sentiments, as the nation grapples with the geopolitical ramifications of the attacks and the critical calls for de-escalation in the region.
