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EU to review Israel trade ties as dozens killed in Gaza

EU to review trade ties with Israel as global backlash against its genocidal assault on Gaza grows
MENA
21 min read
20 May, 2025
Western backlash to Israel's relentless assault on Gaza escalated on Tuesday following warnings by the UN that thousands of babies could starve within 48 hours.

Western backlash to Israel's relentless assault on Gaza escalated on Tuesday following warnings by the UN that thousands of babies could die in 48 hours from starvation.

The EU's top diplomat announced that she would order a review into the bloc's trading relationship with Israel, saying that a "strong majority" of European countries were in favour of the measure.

The UK announced sanctions on settlers and settlements in the occupied West Bank, froze ongoing trade negotiations, and summoned Israel's ambassador to the UK.

Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blasted Western leaders for threatening sanctions on Israel as it conducts a military operation to fully occupy Gaza.

Netanyahu claimed that "leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities".

A joint statement from the UK, Canada, and France threatened to take "concrete actions" against Israel if it did not lift aid restrictions, and threatened "targeted sanctions" if settlements in the occupied West Bank expanded.

The spat comes as Israel doubled down on its latest offensive in Gaza, which has seen an unprecedented bombardment of the enclave, killing at least 60 people in overnight strikes.

On Monday, Netanyahu announced Israel would "take control" over the whole of Gaza as Israeli army units expanded their offensive into the city of Khan Younis.