Israeli officials brushed off growing criticism from European and Middle Eastern allies over the war on Gaza, describing recent statements and threats of sanctions as largely symbolic.
Israeli media quoted officials as saying that pressure from the EU and UK was "declarative" in nature, aimed at sending political messages rather than delivering meaningful consequences.
Israeli news outlet Walla reported that Israeli officials had successfully lobbied the EU to review, rather than suspend, its trade agreements with Israel.
The remarks came after European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc would re-examine its trade ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Kallas said the decision followed support from a "strong majority" of EU member states and aimed to help unblock humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Israel's foreign ministry rejected Kallas's comments, saying in a statement on X: "We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing."
The statement added that such criticism "hardens Hamas's position" and prolongs the war.
In a separate post, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Hamas's praise of EU and UK criticism, calling it "a disgrace".
Meanwhile, the UK government summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely and announced it would suspend ongoing free trade negotiations and sanction violent settlers, citing "egregious" Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel called the move "unjustified" and accused the UK of harming its own economy out of "anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations".
Aid groups urge sanctions
Despite Israel's dismissal, rights groups and aid organisations welcomed the shift in tone from Western governments.
Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN, described the UK's new sanctions as "a step in the right direction", though she stressed they fell far short of what's needed.
She urged the UK, France, and Canada to introduce a UN Security Council resolution for a peacekeeping mission and a no-fly zone to protect civilians in Gaza.
Amnesty International called the actions "devastatingly late", and said the EU had effectively emboldened Israel by failing to act sooner.
The Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) also welcomed the UK's statements but said the government still has a legal duty to act to prevent genocide.
This week, France, Canada, and Saudi Arabia also condemned Israel's expansion of its offensive in Gaza and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire.