Israel strikes Lebanon without pause, EU sanctions and suspension of the Association Agreement return to the table

Israel’s relentless bombing campaign in Lebanon – the most intense since the latest round of conflict with the Shiite movement Hezbollah began – has pushed Iran to reimpose the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, just days after a last-minute truce was reached on Tuesday. The escalation has revived calls in Brussels for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and renewed threats of sanctions against Israel.

“The measures [sanctions] are still on the table,” a European Commission spokesperson warned on Thursday during the daily midday briefing in Brussels. The spokesperson added that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – who first proposed the measures last September – will hold an emergency meeting on Monday with her 26 commissioners to discuss the Middle East situation.

The measures proposed by von der Leyen center on suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Such a suspension would cost Israel roughly €1 billion per year in lost trade benefits and could be adopted by qualified majority vote in the EU Council, thereby bypassing vetoes from the most pro-Israel governments, such as those of the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The EU-Israel Association Agreement was applied provisionally from 1996 and entered into force in 2000. It provides the framework for political and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel.

Since Israel launched its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to the 7 October 2023 attacks, the agreement has been repeatedly challenged by various European leaders.

On Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for the suspension of the agreement in light of the devastating attacks on Lebanon and urged the international community to condemn “this new violation of international law.”

On Thursday, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob backed Spain’s request, citing Israel’s ongoing strikes against Lebanon and the rising number of civilian casualties.

According to Lebanon’s Civil Defense, the attacks have killed at least 254 people and injured 1,165 others. The escalation has raised fears of a possible return to Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, potentially extending as far as the Litani River.

Full solidarity with Lebanon

On Wednesday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers condemned the killing of around 200 civilians by Israel. “Israeli raids killed hundreds of people last night, making it difficult to argue that such brutal actions constitute legitimate self-defense,” Kallas wrote on X.

On Thursday, the European Commission reiterated its call for the US-Iran ceasefire to be extended to Lebanon as well. Commission spokespeople stressed the need for full implementation of the truce on the Lebanese front, explicitly linking regional de-escalation to a reduction in hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.

Paula Pinho, the Commission’s chief spokesperson, referred to the joint statement issued the previous day by Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders, noting “an appeal – an explicit appeal – to all parties to implement the ceasefire agreed the previous night, including in Lebanon.”

A clearer and firmer stance came from the spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Anouar El Anouni: “We, as the European Union, firmly condemn the recent attacks launched by Israel against Lebanon, which have caused a large number of civilian casualties and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such actions represent a very serious escalation and an unacceptable threat to civilian lives and regional stability.”

At the same time, Brussels is not retreating from its demand to reduce Hezbollah’s military and political influence. “Hezbollah must disarm. That is very clear. And we, as the EU, support Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah,” El Anouni emphasized. He explained that European support goes beyond political backing and includes strengthening the Lebanese state and its army through programs in education, social services, institution-building, digitalization to fight corruption, justice reform, and assistance to the armed forces so they can deploy effectively across the country. “Our commitment to Lebanon remains unwavering, and we stand firmly by Lebanon and the Lebanese people,” he concluded.

The original article in Italian by our partner FocusEurope.it can be found here.

Caption: People fleeing areas the Israeli army has warned against in Beirut, Lebanon, 09 April 2026. At least 182 people were killed and more than 890 others injured after Israeli airstrikes hit multiple locations across Lebanon on 8 April, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported. Israel launched a large-scale attack across Lebanon, including central Beirut, a day after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. The Israeli government said the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon and that strikes on Hezbollah locations will continue. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH