EU’s Borrell raises possible sanctions against Israeli ministers for “hate messages” against Palestinians

Brussels (Quds News Network)- European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday he has asked the bloc’s members if they want to impose sanctions on some Israeli ministers for “hate messages” against Palestinians that he said broke international law.

Speaking to reporters on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrell said he has begun the process of asking EU member states “if they consider (it) appropriate to include in our list of sanctions some Israeli ministers (who) have been launching unacceptable hate messages against the Palestinians, and proposing things that clearly go against international law”.

Borrell did not name any of the Israeli ministers to whom he was referring or specify which messages he had in mind.

However, in recent weeks, he has publicly criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for statements he has described as “sinister” and “an incitement to war crimes” as they have publicly called for Israel to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and push more Palestinians out of Gaza.

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter said she will offer full support for the imposition of sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich during the meeting.

“Genocidal policies and statements should not go unpunished,” she said in a post on X.

Ireland, one of the EU’s most pro-Palestinian members, said on Thursday it backed Borrell’s suggestion.

“We will be supporting Josep Borrell’s recommendation for sanctions in respect of settler organizations in the West Bank who are facilitating (the) expansion of settlements, and also to Israeli ministers,” Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told reporters as he arrived at the Brussels meeting.

Smotrich has previously prompted outrage, including from the EU, for saying that “it might be justified and moral” to starve the two million Palestinians in Gaza as well as for calling for the expulsion of Palestinians from the coastal enclave.

Ben-Gvir has also drawn anger for advocating the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza and for saying that his right to move around the occupied West Bank outweighed those of the Palestinians living there. The extremist minister also called to increase the military pressure and starving people as the only way to release Israeli prisoners.

Following Borrell’s remarks, Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, said his government was “now working with our friends in Europe to prevent the adoption of resolutions against Israel” at the meeting of EU’s top diplomats.

“The message we are conveying is clear: in a reality where Israel is faced with the threats of Iran and its proxy terrorist organizations – the free world must stand by Israel, and not act against it,” he wrote on X.