Sweden, Netherlands urge EU to impose sanctions on Israel, Hamas

Sweden and the Netherlands have urged the EU to impose sanctions on both Israel and Hamas over the war in Gaza, including suspending the EU-Israel trade deal, according to a document seen by AFP on Thursday.

In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the Swedish and Dutch foreign ministers called for targeted sanctions on Israeli government ministers and Jewish settlers in occupied Palestinian land, as well as on the political leadership of Hamas.

They also pressed for suspending the commercial section of the EU-Israel association accord, which grants free trade in several sectors, notably agriculture.

EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the proposals on Saturday.