EU chief von der Leyen considers sanctions, trade suspension on 'Israel'

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Wednesday she would push to sanction "extremist" ‘Israeli’ ministers and curb trade ties over Gaza, as she warned famine cannot be used as a "weapon of war," Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. 

"What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic," von der Leyen said. "For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity -- this must stop."

The ongoing ‘Israeli’ offensive in Gaza has brought the death toll to a total of 64,605, with 163,319 others injured, the enclave’s health ministry reported on Tuesday.

Read more: Gaza’s death toll climbs to 64,605 as health services collapse: Health Ministry

A ministry official warned of Gaza’s crippling health system, stressing that the catastrophe is pushing hundreds of thousands of besieged residents to the brink, and calling for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors. 

The chief’s statement came a day after ‘Israel’ struck Qatar’s capital Doha while targeting Hamas negotiators on the latest US ceasefire proposal, killing six people. 

While Hamas’ leadership survived the attack, five members were killed, including the son of senior leader and negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, along with a member of Qatar’s security forces.

Read more: Read more: Gaza will be reduced to ruins if Hamas rejects Israel's terms: Katz

The Dutch government already announced on Tuesday that 'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are now banned from entering any of the 29 countries in the Schengen zone.

According to officials, the ban has been added to the Schengen Information System, which means border authorities across all member states are expected to refuse entry to the two ministers. However, one source told 'Israeli' newspaper Haaretz that individual governments could, in practice, instruct their border officers to overlook the restriction.