Former European officials call for sanctions against Israel

More than 350 former European ministers, ambassadors, and senior officials have sent a formal declaration to the 27 EU member states and institutional leaders requesting specific measures against Israel. The appeal was released on April 15, 2026, ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council on April 21 and the subsequent European Council meeting. Signatories argue that Israel has committed systematic human rights violations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Their list of proposed actions includes the full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and a total ban on trade with illegal settlements. Furthermore, they demand a cessation of military equipment exports to Israel and the suspension of its participation in EU-sponsored programs. The group also advocates for an expanded list of sanctioned individuals, including travel bans for those involved in rights violations. Finally, they propose establishing clear human rights benchmarks to monitor Israel's future conduct, with the threat of additional sanctions for non-compliance.