The European Union says sanctions against Israel remain a possibility despite the recent Gaza ceasefire, as the bloc seeks to maintain leverage to ensure the truce is fully upheld.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that while the ceasefire had altered the situation, Brussels would not rule out punitive measures if Israel fails to follow through on commitments tied to humanitarian relief and political reforms.
“The ceasefire has changed the context—that is very clear for everybody. However, unless we see real and sustained change on the ground, including more aid reaching Gaza, the threat of sanctions remains on the table.” Kallas told reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Before the truce was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, the EU had discussed blacklisting Israeli ministers and restricting trade ties. Kallas said those proposals were now on hold but still under consideration.
“We don’t move with the measures now, but we don’t take them off the table either, because the situation is fragile,” she said.
The EU, she added, expects Israel to take several steps, including improving humanitarian access to Gaza, transferring revenues to the Palestinian Authority, allowing journalists into the territory, and registering humanitarian groups.
Divisions among the EU’s 27-member states had previously prevented Brussels from securing the majority needed to adopt the proposed sanctions. Still, the bloc remains the largest donor to the Palestinians and has been weighing how to increase its involvement in Gaza’s post-war reconstruction.
Kallas confirmed that the EU has reactivated its mission to help oversee the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, though it remains on standby while the route stays closed.
The ceasefire, which Trump brokered nearly two weeks ago, came under strain over the weekend when the Israeli military struck dozens of Hamas positions in response to attacks that killed two soldiers. “The ceasefire in Gaza has just faced its first major stress test. Hamas attacks on Palestinian civilians and its refusal to disarm make the ceasefire increasingly fragile.” Kallas said.
At the White House, Trump warned that Hamas would be “eradicated” if it violates the truce. Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the U.S. president said he was giving the militant group a final chance to abide by the deal.
“We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice. And if they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them, if we have to. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that.” Trump said.
Trump added that U.S. troops would not be directly involved in any future military operations, saying dozens of countries had volunteered to join an international stabilization force for Gaza. “Israel would go in in two minutes, if I asked them to. But right now, we’re going to give it a little chance.” he said.
The U.S. leader also suggested that Hamas was now significantly weakened, pointing to Iran’s reluctance to intervene after earlier U.S. and Israeli strikes.