“Europe conveys the wrong message that strengthens Hamas and the radical axis in the Middle East,” Israel’s foreign minister said after Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will suspend its "bilateral support" with Israel and partially suspend the trade parts of the agreement.
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Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar slammed the European Commission chief's announcement on Wednesday that the EU will suspend its "bilateral support" with Israel and partially suspend the trade parts of its association agreement.
Calling Ursula von der Leyen’s comments “regrettable," Sa'ar said that “this is not acceptable conduct between partners.”
Furthermore, some of von der Leyen's words were “also tainted by echoing the false propaganda of Hamas and its partners,” Sa'ar added.
“Once again, Europe conveys the wrong message that strengthens Hamas and the radical axis in the Middle East.”
In her annual State of the Union address, von der Leyen denounced a “man-made famine” in Gaza and “a clear attempt” by Israel to “undermine the two-state solution". But she also called Europe’s inability to find a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza “painful”.
"What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable," von der Leyen said. "Europe must lead the way just as it has done before."
Israel’s foreign minister stated that the European Commission president is “well aware of Israel’s efforts — together with, among others, the European Union itself — to assist the humanitarian effort in Gaza”.
“The main point was missing from the president’s statement: the suffering in Gaza is entirely the work of Hamas,” Sa'ar stated as he reiterated that the war in Gaza began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, many of them civilians.
Hamas is still holding 48 hostages, around 20 of whom are thought to be alive.
“Its continuation is the result of Hamas’ persistent refusal to release our hostages and lay down its arms. The suffering inflicted on both Israelis and Palestinians alike is Hamas’s fault," Sa'ar said.
"Anyone who seeks an end to the war knows very well how to end it: the release of the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, a new future for Gaza.”
Earlier this year, the EU agreed to review its central partnership with Israel dating back to 1995, known as the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in response to Israel's ongoing actions in Gaza.
But finding consensus regarding further measures has so far been impossible due to the deep divisions among the EU member states.
“I am aware it will be difficult to find majorities,” von der Leyen said, “but we must all take our own responsibility.”
Sa'ar responded by saying that the president of the European Commission “errs in yielding to the pressures of elements that seek to undermine Israel–Europe relations.”
“This trend is contrary to the interests of the European states themselves. And mainly: this is not acceptable conduct between partners.”