EU Commission chief proposes sanctions on Israel

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that she intends to pursue sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza — a significant shift in stance for the EU leader, who has long supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The European Union, made up of 27 member states, remains divided over its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. It is still uncertain whether von der Leyen will secure enough support to pass the proposed measures. She also revealed that the Commission will establish a Palestine donor coordination group next month, which will focus in part on the reconstruction of Gaza. Von der Leyen said the devastation in Gaza, especially the...