The European Commission said on September 17 that it had submitted a proposal to the Council of the European Union to partially suspend the preferential terms related to trade in the EU-Israel Partnership Agreement.

The European Commission said that the measures were based on the compliance review of the second article of the above-mentioned agreement on human rights. The review found that the Israeli government's actions violated the basic contents of respecting human rights and the principles of *, and the EU therefore had the right to unilaterally suspend the agreement.

The European Commission also said that the Israeli military operation has resulted in a sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with rescue supplies blocked, while the Israeli authorities decided to advance the settlement program "E1 Zone" on the West Bank, further undermining the prospect of the "two-country plan".

A senior EU official said at a press conference on the same day that once the measures were implemented, Israeli imports of European goods would return under the World Trade Organization¡¯s most favourable country treatment rules and tariffs would rise.

The European Commission has also proposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers ¨C National Security Minister Ben-Gevil and Finance Minister Smotrich ¨C as well as some ¡°violent settlers¡± and related entities. The EU also plans to include 10 members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Political Bureau on the sanctions list, who will face asset freezes and travel bans.

Israeli Foreign Minister Sal said in a statement on social media that the measures the European Commission intends to take are "morally and politically distorted" and will harm Europe's own interests, saying that actions against Israel will surely be responded accordingly and that Israel hopes not to have to take these measures.

According to EU procedures, trade measures must be approved by a qualified majority of the EU Council and formally enter into force 30 days after notification to the EU-Israel Connector Council; sanctions against Hamas, ¡°extremist ministers¡± and ¡°violent settlers¡± of the Israeli government must be implemented with the unanimous consent of the EU Council.