by Oui
Wed Sep 10th, 2025 at 09:56:02 PM EST
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Israel threatens Qatar despite US assurances, Netanyahu issues fresh warning
Despite international condemnation and the US President saying no further attacks would happen on Qatari soil, the Israeli prime minister has issued a fresh threat to Qatar. Benjamin Netanyahu accused Qatar of harbouring terrorists and threatened to take unilateral action unless they're brought to justice or expelled.
Von der Leyen proposes bolder E.U. sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza | AP News |
Von der Leyen's comments came the day after Israel's military warned Gaza City residents to evacuate ahead of its plans to take control of what it says is Hamas' last remaining stronghold and where hundreds of thousands of people remain under conditions of famine.
'Shamefully late'
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, wrote on X that von der Leyen's proposals were "shamefully late" and that the "EU can no longer ignore millions of protestors who for the last 23 months have denounced Israel's crimes." She called on both Germany and Italy not to block the measures if voted on.
Schams El Ghoneimi, a former Middle East advisor in the European Parliament, said he was surprised by von der Leyen's comments because "she has been so deaf" to the situation in Gaza and the rising concerns echoed by EU staffers and member states about the situation in the Palestinian territory.
Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland have led criticism of Israel from within the EU, while Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic have defended Israel. Germany is Israel's second-largest arms supplier after the United States.
"It's just too late, and too little, given the catastrophe on the ground," said Martin Konečný, director of the Brussels-based European Middle East Project. But he said sanctions and suspension of bilateral deals were significant practically and symbolically because of von der Leyen's public support for Israel.
Von der Leyen has largely supported the government of Benjamin Netanyahu since meeting him on Oct. 14, 2023, after visiting a kibbutz smoldering from the Hamas raid.
Konečný said the EU leader was "the embodiment of the very pro-Israel commitment of the EU, especially after the Oct. 7 attack" by Hamas against Israel that killed 1,200 and left 251 hostages, sparking the war. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry does not say how many were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up around half the dead.
Agnes Callamard wrote on X that von der Leyen's proposals were "shamefully late"
