News - EU foreign policy chief proposes sanctions on Israel ministers

The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, has proposed imposing sanctions on Israeli government members to the 27 EU member states, the German dpa news agency reports. Israeli ministers have been "launching hate messages, unacceptable hate messages against the Palestinians," Borrell said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday. The proposed sanctions target Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, dpa learned from EU officials shortly before the aforesaid meeting. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have recently caused outrage with anti-Palestinian statements. Ben-Gvir recently called for an end to aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip in order to pressure the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. Smotrich made a similar statement, suggesting a possible blockade of aid until all Israeli hostages held by Hamas were released. According to Israel, Hamas still holds 107 hostages in Gaza. But at least a third of them are believed to be no longer alive.