Israel has launched a blistering counter-attack against the European Union’s proposed sanctions, with its foreign minister, Gideon Saar, accusing the bloc of “empowering a terrorist organization.” This sharp rhetoric escalates the diplomatic conflict and underscores Israel’s complete rejection of the European pressure campaign.
In a formal letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Saar articulated a message of outrage and defiance. He positioned the EU’s actions not as a legitimate tool of foreign policy, but as a move that undermines Israel’s security and emboldens its adversaries, specifically Hamas. The proposal also includes sanctions on 10 Hamas leaders, a point Israel’s response did not highlight.
The Israeli government is framing the EU’s proposal as a fundamental misunderstanding of the conflict. From their perspective, the war in Gaza is a necessary act of self-defense, and any external pressure to halt operations is seen as a threat to national security. Saar’s letter vowed that Israel “will not be bent through threats.”
This accusation aims to reframe the debate, shifting the focus from the humanitarian situation in Gaza to the EU’s alleged appeasement of Hamas. It is a powerful political argument designed to resonate with EU member states that are more sympathetic to Israel’s security concerns and wary of being seen as weak on terrorism.
The EU has pushed back on this characterization, with officials insisting the measures are a targeted effort to change the Israeli government’s policies, not to support Hamas. However, Israel’s strong and public condemnation ensures that the debate within the EU will be highly charged, making the path to approving the sanctions even more difficult.
