Drastic Change, EU President Supporting Netanyahu Announces Europe Sanctions To Israel
JAKARTA - EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday 10 September that the EU would impose trade sanctions on Israel expanding its military operations in Gaza, Palestine.
This threat of sanctions is a moment of drastic change for Von der Leyen, who is known as a loyal supporter of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
Citing AP, Wednesday 10 September, this announcement was also shortly made from the reckless Israeli attack on Doha, Qatar.
The EU, which consists of 27 countries, is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and Palestine. So far, it is not clear which countries support sanctions related to trade measures for these European countries.
In addition to turning sharp towards paying attention to the condition of the population of Gaza, Von der Leyen also said the EU would form a donor group for Palestine in October 2025. The donor countries will focus on the reconstruction of Gaza in the future.
He added that what happened in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinian children and families in the region "has shaken the conscience of the world."
Separately, Gaza's Ministry of Health declared 126 Palestinians, including 26 children, to have died from malnutrition since international experts announced a hunger disaster in Gaza City on August 22, 2025.
"Human-made extortion could never be a weapons of war. For the sake of children, for the sake of humanity. This must be stopped," said Von der Leyen, who was greeted by a lively applause from the European Parliament during a meeting in Strasbourg, France, Wednesday, September 10.
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Responding to the humanitarian efforts that the EU will make, Israel is against it. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a post on social media, said Von der Leyen had surrendered to pressure that damaged Israel-European relations.
Instead of feeling concern over the death toll of the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 2023, which has touched 64,600 people as of Wednesday 10 September 2025, Gideon Saar claims Von der Leyen's actions will make Hamas even bolder.