The European Union is proposing a package of punitive measures against Israel for alleged breaches of human rights committed during its war against Hamas.

The European Union led by Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Wednesday announced it was proposing a package of punitive measures targeting Israel over its war in Gaza. Photo by President Ukraine Office/UPI UPI

Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The European Union is proposing a package of punitive measures against Israel for alleged breaches of human rights committed during its war against Hamas.

"We regret having to take this step," EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Wednesday. "However, we believe it is both appropriate and proportionate given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

The package includes a suspension of core trade-related benefits on about 37% of Israeli exports, which will take effect 30 days after adoption. This will represent a significant blow to Israel as the EU accounted for 32% of its total trade of $50.3 billion in 2024.

It also calls for a freezing of bilateral support to Israel with the exception of support to civil society and Yad Vashem, the world Holocaust remembrance center.

Sanctions are also included, targeting 10 members of Hamas and nine Israeli ministers and extremist settlers.

The 27 member states would need to adopt the measures first before it can be put into effect.

The EU is proposing the package after a review found Israel in non-compliance with Article 2 of their bilateral trade agreement, which states their relationship is based "on respect of human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement."

The EU said evidence of Israel's breach is "the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following the military intervention of Israel," as well as its blockade of humanitarian aid and its intensification of advancing settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.

EU President Ursula von der Leyen last week signaled that they would seek to impose punitive measures against Israel for taking actions that undermine the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable," she said.

Israel has been waging war against Hamas in Gaza since the Iran-backed militia launched a bloody attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Since then, Gaza has been all but destroyed and is experiencing a man-made famine.

According to the Palestine Ministry of Health, more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israel in the war. More than 432 people, including 146 children, have died from malnutrition.

Though Israel had wide-ranging support in the days and weeks following the Oct. 7 attack, it has greatly slipped over the months since as the death toll climbed, rubble accumulated, accusations of human rights violations mounted and the number of countries it attacked increased.

Last week, Israel attacked Qatar in an attempt to kill senior high-ranking Hamas leaders, heightening tensions throughout the region.

Israel has gained control of about 75% of Gaza and on Tuesday launched its long-threatened, widely-condemned ground offensive to try and gain the last 25% that is Gaza City.

The EU proposed the package the same day Human Rights Watch accused Israel of committing "a war crime" in southern Syria where it has attacked its foes.

A day prior, an independent United Nations human rights commission said Israel was committing genocide.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israel has consistently rebuffed critics as anti-Semitic and echoing Hamas propaganda.

"The recommendations of the college of Commissioners led by President von der Leyen are morally and politically distorted, and it is to be hoped that they will not be adopted as has been the case so far. Moves against Israel will harm Europe's own interests," Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, said in a statement on X on Wednesday.

"Steps against Israel will be answered accordingly, and we hope we will not be required to take them."