Former EU envoy urges Brussels to maintain sanctions threat against Israel

BRUSSELS

Former EU representative to Palestine Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff has called on Brussels to keep the threat of sanctions against Israel alive, warning that failure to act could jeopardize the future of a Palestinian state.

Von Burgsdorff on Thursday joined a group of former EU ambassadors who gathered outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

The protest also drew participation from staff working in various EU institutions.

During his address, von Burgsdorff said that he and other former diplomats had repeatedly written to EU leaders, urging sanctions against Israel until a ceasefire was achieved.

He criticized his home country, Germany, for what he described as an indifferent stance on the issue.

Highlighting the ongoing Israeli attacks and civilian casualties in Gaza even after a declared ceasefire, he said: “This is not a real ceasefire.”

Von Burgsdorff warned: “If the EU and its member states do not act, in the coming months or years we will no longer be able to speak of a Palestinian state.”

He urged EU leaders to keep the sanctions proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the European Council in October on the agenda and to take into account the rulings of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Addressing EU personnel directly, von Burgsdorff said, “We are former officials, but it is you who can influence the leaders,” calling on them to take action.