Published On 30 Aug 202530 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Divided foreign ministers from the European Union are tussling over what action to take over Israel\u2019s genocidal war in Gaza<\/a> after the bloc\u2019s humanitarian aid chief called on them to \u201cfind a strong voice that reflects our values and principles\u201d amid death, destruction and man-made starvation across the besieged enclave.<\/p>\n Ministers from the EU\u2019s 27 member countries have gathered to discuss the war at a meeting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, on Saturday.<\/p>\n They will also discuss a proposal to suspend EU funding to Israeli start-ups as initial punitive action.\u00a0The bloc has so far failed to garner the majority needed to take that step \u2013 let alone move ahead with more forceful measures against Israel.<\/p>\n There are splits between member states, like Spain and Ireland, who want to apply heavy pressure on Israel to stop its punishing attacks on Palestinians, and its firm allies, such as Germany and Hungary, who want to take little or no action at all.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting that the EU is doing \u201ctoo little too late\u201d and \u201cdoing nothing \u2026 hadn\u2019t achieved anything\u201d when it came to the situation in Gaza. He said he wanted to increase pressure on Israel during the meetings in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n Host Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Saturday: \u201cWe are witnessing the most catastrophic humanitarian catastrophe. Israel must change its course. We should find common ground. I am not revealing a secret by saying we must change words into sanctions. Denmark is ready to suspend the trade chapter in the association agreement and put sanctions on the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government and some ministers in his government.\u201d<\/p>\n EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before the meeting, \u201cI\u2019m not very optimistic, and today we are definitely not going to adopt decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sends a signal that we are divided.\u201d<\/p>\n Many EU governments have sharply criticised Israel\u2019s conduct during the war, particularly over the deaths of civilians and restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n The outcry intensified after a global hunger monitor that works with the United Nations and major aid agencies, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), said last week it had determined there was famine in Gaza<\/a> \u2013 a finding rejected by Israel despite overwhelming evidence.<\/p>\n But EU members have been divided over a common response, with some calling for economic measures to pressure Israel and others stressing a desire to maintain dialogue.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said there should be no restrictions on access to next month\u2019s United Nations General Assembly, after the United States said it would deny visas<\/a> to members of the Palestinian Authority.<\/p>\n \u201cA UN General Assembly meeting should not be subject to any restrictions on access,\u201d Barrot said.<\/p>\n The EU\u2019s executive body proposed last month to curb Israeli access to an EU research-funding programme but the proposal has so far not found enough support from member countries to pass.<\/p>\n