- September 17, 2025
- 3:17 pm
- Brief news
The European Commission has proposed a series of measures against Israel due to its military actions in the Gaza Strip and the worsening humanitarian situation. This statement was made on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, as part of the review of the implementation of Article 2 of the Association Agreement with the EU.
Main Measures
The Commission proposes to suspend certain trade provisions of the agreement, affecting goods from Israel worth approximately 5.8 billion euros. This involves the loss of preferential access to the EU market, leading to tariffs similar to those applied to countries without a free trade agreement with the European Union.
In addition, it is planned to suspend direct support for several Israeli projects, excluding initiatives in the field of civil society and support for the Yad Vashem memorial complex.
Reasons and Consequences
This decision is related to the fact that Israel’s actions, including “the blockade of humanitarian aid and the increase in military operations,” have become “the cause of the rapid deterioration of situations in Gaza.” The Commission notes that Israel “violates important principles concerning human rights and democracy,” allowing the EU to respond to such actions in one of the ways.
The proposal must be approved by the EU Council, which is possible only with a qualified majority.
Sanctions Against Israeli Officials
Additionally, sanctions are proposed against two Israeli ministers — Itamar Ben Gvir (national security) and Bezalel Smotrich (finance), as well as against 10 members of the political bureau of the Hamas movement. This decision will become available for implementation only after unanimous approval by the EU Council.
Plans for Participation in Scientific Initiatives
Previously, the European Commission had already proposed partially suspending Israel’s participation in the “Horizon Europe” program, which supports scientific research and startups in EU countries.
The European Commission’s approach highlights Europe’s changing policy towards Israel amid the crisis in Gaza. The measures taken signal the EU’s desire to more clearly reflect its values in international relations and responses to complex conflict situations.