The European Union (EU) has denounced recent U.S. sanctions on Palestinian non-governmental organizations, describing them as “regrettable and unjust.”
EU spokesperson Anwar Al-Anouni told Al Arabiya that such measures undermine the work of human rights defenders, who play a crucial role in promoting democratic values and strengthening societies.
“These people must be protected, and their rights respected,” he said, adding that sanctions or attacks on judges, such as those at the International Criminal Court, or on elected representatives, are “unacceptable.”
Al-Anouni reiterated that all 27 EU member states remain committed to the two-state solution, which the bloc sees as the only viable path to peace. He further called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and urged Israel to lift restrictions hindering humanitarian aid deliveries. The EU, he said, will continue to back international efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis.
The remarks follow controversial comments last week by European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera, who accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza—making her the first senior EU official to level such a charge.
Israel sharply rejected Ribera’s statement, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein calling it “baseless” and accusing her of echoing “Hamas propaganda.” He argued that instead of “repeating Hamas’s terminology,” EU officials should focus on demanding the release of hostages and pressuring Hamas to disarm.
The EU itself remains split over the conflict. While countries such as Germany continue to emphasize Israel’s right to self-defense, others, including Spain, have consistently described Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocide.” This division has prevented the bloc from adopting a unified position.
