Denmark Calls on the European Union to Impose Sanctions on Israel

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called on the European Union to take practical steps against Israel over its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, proposing sanctions against some ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu's government and suspending the trade chapter of the partnership agreement signed between the two sides.

During a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen, Rasmussen said that the situation in Gaza has reached the level of a humanitarian catastrophe. He added, "Israel must change its course, and we must turn words into sanctions." He added that Denmark is prepared to suspend trade cooperation and impose sanctions on the Netanyahu government and some of its ministers.

The meeting, attended by foreign ministers from the 27 EU member states, included discussions on a proposal to halt EU funding for Israeli startups as a first step to pressure Tel Aviv.

For his part, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the EU's slow response to the crisis, saying, "We haven't done much, we've been too late... We haven't achieved anything regarding the situation in Gaza," stressing the need to increase pressure on Israel.