By Horn Africa News
COPENHAGEN – A meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Copenhagen, Denmark, has exposed sharp divisions within the bloc over how to respond to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza
Countries including Spain and Ireland urged the EU to adopt stronger measures, including sanctions, to pressure Israel into halting attacks against Palestinians. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the EU for what he described as “too little, too late,” arguing that words of concern must be matched with concrete action.
On the other side, Israel’s close allies within the EU, such as Germany and Hungary, opposed any punitive measures against Tel Aviv. Their resistance has so far prevented consensus on proposals that include suspending EU funding for Israeli innovation and technology companies, according to Reuters.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe today.” He stressed that statements of concern must be translated into action, declaring Denmark’s readiness to block the EU’s trade agreement with Israel and to impose sanctions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its ministers.
The internal rift reflects the EU’s long-standing struggle to balance relations with Israel against growing pressure from some member states and humanitarian organizations to hold Israel accountable for alleged human rights violations in Gaza.
