EU Foreign Ministers discuss possible sanctions against Israel

For the first time, EU foreign ministers have discussed the possibility of imposing sanctions against Israel if it does not comply with international humanitarian law.

This was announced on Monday by Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin. According to Ukrinform, citing Politico, this topic was raised at a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

“A very clear consensus has been reached on the need to support international humanitarian legal institutions,” Martin told reporters after the meeting.

According to him, it was “the first time he has seen a real discussion on sanctions at an EU meeting”.

“There was a lively discussion about the temporary orders of the International Court of Justice... There was a very clear position that Israel must comply with these temporary orders in order to open the Rafah crossing and to stop military operations in Rafah,” Martin said.

The EU foreign ministers decided to convene a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council to express “serious concern and... to seek a response from Israel in terms of compliance with the court's orders,” he added.

“International humanitarian law and respect for human rights is the raison d'être of the European Union, and the events that are happening now really put this issue in the spotlight, especially given the attack last night when so many innocent people were killed,” Martin explained.

He emphasized that there must be accountability for all those killed by Hamas and “for the thousands of Palestinians brutally murdered during this war.”

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 28/05/2024