LONDON

The EU foreign policy chief on Thursday called for international attention to the escalating situation in the West Bank and Gaza, suggesting potential sanctions against Israeli ministers.

After the EU’s foreign and defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Josep Borrell highlighted the deteriorating conditions in both regions and the increasing radicalization within the Israeli far-right government.

During a press conference, he underscored that any cease-fire agreement must include provisions for the release of hostages, a move he believes is essential to providing some relief to the suffering population.

Pointing to the worsening situation in the West Bank, he stressed that the gravity of the situation could not be ignored. The situation there is horrific, and becoming worse and worse every day, Borrell continued, expressing concern over the inflammatory rhetoric from some members of the Israeli government.

He condemned the recent statements by Israeli extremists advocating for the destruction of mosques to build a synagogue in their place, calling such actions "unaffordable."

Borrell drew attention to the broader implications of the conflict, noting that it extends beyond Gaza and into the West Bank and Jerusalem, areas that hold significant territorial and symbolic value.

'This is not affordable'

He criticized certain far-right Israeli ministers for prioritizing their colonial agenda in the West Bank over any peace efforts in Gaza.

"We are thus witnessing a form of radicalization on the part of some members of Israeli far right, for whom Gaza has always been a minor issue compared with the West Bank and Jerusalem...any return to calm would make it more difficult to pursue the colonial agenda they have for the West Bank," he said.

"You have to be blind and deaf to not perceive the gravity of what's going on in the West Bank. The people who put their foot in the fire saying that they have to destroy the mosques and build a synagogue instead. This is not affordable," he added.

Sanctions against Israeli ministers

In response to these developments, Borrell revealed that he has proposed to the EU member states the consideration of sanctions against specific Israeli ministers responsible for promoting these extremist views.

While acknowledging that there was no unanimity on the issue, he stated his intention to use his authority to bring the proposal forward.

"I have tabled a proposal to the technical bodies of the council in order to study the proposal of including these two ministers in the listing for violation of human rights," Borrell said, highlighting the EU's commitment to addressing the human rights violations in the region.

In previous weeks, Borrell has criticized far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for statements he called "sinister."