International Diplomacy Belgium Calls for Sanctions on Israel
BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Petra De Sutter, has urged the Belgian government to impose sanctions on Israel and launch an investigation into the bombings of hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza. De Sutter emphasized the inhumanity of the ongoing bomb attacks, stating that Israel appears indifferent to international calls for a ceasefire.
Calling for immediate action, De Sutter proposed that the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel, focusing on economic and political cooperation. She also advocated for an import ban on products from occupied Palestinian territories and suggested barring individuals involved in war crimes from entering the EU. Simultaneously, De Sutter recommended increased funding for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate bombings while cutting financial support to Hamas.
Paris Aid Conference:
Israeli representatives will be absent from Thursday’s humanitarian conference for Gaza in Paris, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite the absence, Israel expresses interest in improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as conveyed by an official from Macron’s office. Macron has engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, planning further talks post the aid conference. Additionally, Macron has communicated with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, both playing pivotal roles in efforts to increase aid to the Gaza Strip.
The hurriedly organized Thursday aid conference, coinciding with the Paris Peace Forum on November 10-11, responds to growing calls for humanitarian pauses and a comprehensive ceasefire. These efforts aim to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza and sustain hopes for the release of prisoners.
Hospital Ship:
Italy announces plans to dispatch a hospital ship near the coast of Gaza to assist victims of Israeli aggression, according to Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The ship, leaving from the western Italian port of Civitavecchia, carries 170 staff, including 30 trained for medical emergencies. Italy is also coordinating the deployment of a field hospital to Gaza. Crosetto indicates that two Italian naval vessels previously sent to the region are likely to remain in place.
