EU nations divided on sanctioning Israel for Gaza war as FMs meet

A proposal to suspend EU funding to Israeli start-ups will be discussed as initial punitive action for Gaza atrocities.

Divided foreign ministers from the European Union are tussling over what action to take over Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza after the bloc’s humanitarian aid chief called on them to “find a strong voice that reflects our values and principles” amid Israeli death, destruction and man-made starvation across the besieged enclave.

Ministers from the EU’s 27 member countries have gathered to discuss the war at a meeting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, on Saturday.

They will also discuss a proposal to suspend EU funding to Israeli start-ups as initial punitive action. The bloc has so far failed to garner the majority needed to take that step – let alone move ahead with more forceful measures against Israel.

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.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting that the EU is doing “too little too late” and “doing nothing … hadn’t achieved anything” when it came to the situation in Gaza. He said he wanted to increase pressure on Israel during the meetings in Copenhagen.