Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

EU Top Diplomat Calls for Sanctions Against Israeli National Security Minister

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Earlier, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States called on Israel and Hamas to resume discussions on the terms of a ceasefire on August 14-15. The leaders of the three countries said they were ready to present a final proposal to reach a deal.
Sputnik
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called on the European Union to consider sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his calls to cut fuel and aid supplies to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

"While the world pushes for a ceasefire in #Gaza, Min. Ben Gvir calls for cutting fuel & aid to civilians. Like Min. Smotrich [Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich] sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes. Sanctions must be on our EU agenda," Borrell said on X.

The EU official also called on the Israeli government to "unequivocally distance itself" from incitements to commit war crimes.
Israel-Palestine Escalation
At Least 100 Killed, Dozens Injured in Israeli Strike on Gaza City School - Reports
"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," Borrell added.
Ben-Gvir advocates a tougher stance on the Palestinian National Authority. The politician has repeatedly spoken out against the deal with Hamas and ending the war in Gaza, saying that it is necessary to go "to the bitter end" and abandon the "senseless" deal.
Smotrich previously said that in the context of the struggle to free Israeli hostages, he considered it justified and moral to block humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, even if this led to the death of two million Palestinians from starvation, and complained that the international community would not allow this.