Kallas calls on Germany to stop hindering EU diplomacy in Gaza

Published connected 16/09/2025 - 14:42 GMT+2 •Updated 14:48

Germany indispensable travel up with “measures” and “bring alternatives” to interruption the EU’s deadlock connected Gaza, EU overseas argumentation main Kaja Kallas said successful an exclusive interview with Euronews.

Kallas spoke arsenic Israel toughened its subject run successful Gaza and launched a crushed violative connected Tuesday.  She besides spoke a week aft European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her State of the Union code that she would propose to suspend its "bilateral support" with Israel and partially suspend the commercialized parts of the EU-Israel association agreement.

To marque bully connected von der Leyen’s announcement, Kallas told Euronews that the committee would propose connected Wednesday to reimpose duties connected Israeli goods successful effect to the warfare successful Gaza and ongoing violations successful the West Bank.

But suspending commercialized with Israel would necessitate a qualified bulk vote, and Germany leads the beforehand of European countries opposing sanctions connected the Jewish state, owing to the relation it played successful the Holocaust.

Asked however she would person the German authorities to slap duties connected Israel, Kallas said, “If you hold connected the diagnosis that the concern is highly grave, the concern is disastrous and untenable, past the question is what bash we bash astir this?"

"If you don't enactment these measures, past what measures tin you support? Bring alternatives.”

“So if Germany had agreed to thing a mates of years agone oregon agrees now, past it would really enactment unit connected Israel and the concern successful the Gaza Strip and the West Bank whitethorn not beryllium arsenic sedate arsenic it is now;" Kallas continued.

She noted that Germany, nether the unit of its nationalist opinion, had begun to displacement its stance by halting arms exports to Israel, saying it is “a important step”.

Italy and the Czech Republic are besides portion of the EU countries which reason sanctions to Israel.

In July, Kallas presented a acceptable of 10 options successful effect to Israel's actions successful Gaza, including suspension of commercialized preferences with Israel and blocking imports from Jewish settlements. 

The Commission besides projected to partially suspend the EU's Horizon Europe probe and innovation programme.

But Germany and Italy person opposed those moves.