Belgium urges sanctions on Israel amid Gaza offensive

By Ahmet Gencturk

THENS (AA) – Belgium’s deputy Premier Petra De Sutter renewed calls for sanctions against Israel in response to its ongoing offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 38,800 civilians, including thousands of women and children.

"Too many Palestinians were killed, despite the international call for a ceasefire," De Sutter underlined on X.

Highlighting Ursula von der Leyen’s recent re-election as EU Commission president, De Sutter affirmed, “I reinforce her pledge to increase humanitarian aid & support to Palestinian Authority.”

"I repeat my call for sanctions against Israel," she emphasized.

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

More than 38,800 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 89,400 injured, according to local health authorities.

Over nine months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.