The Cabinet ministers proposed to condition supplies to Gaza on the return of hostages held by Hamas.
Josep Borrell, the E.U.’s outgoing foreign policy chief, on Monday condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s call to condition humanitarian aid to Gaza on the return of hostages held by Hamas.
“While the World pushes for a ceasefire in #Gaza, Min. Ben Gvir calls for cutting fuel & aid to civilians. Like Min. Smotrich sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes. Sanctions must be on our EU agenda,” Borrell, who is due to leave his post in the fall, wrote on X.
“I urge the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes, and call it to engage in good faith in the negotiations facilitated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt for an immediate ceasefire,” the 77-year-old Spanish diplomat added.
Commenting on the ongoing hostage talks on Sunday, Ben-Gvir urged the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop the transfer of humanitarian aid and fuel until all our hostages are returned home, encourage immigration [of Palestinians], and occupy the territories of the Strip to keep them in our hands permanently.”