France, Germany, Italy push EU for new sanctions against Hamas for ‘atrocious’ Oct. 7 attacks

Illustrative: An Israeli man wearing a prayer shawl prays next to houses destroyed on October 7 by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, October 22, 2023 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Illustrative: An Israeli man wearing a prayer shawl prays next to houses destroyed on October 7 by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, October 22, 2023 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

ROME — The French, German and Italian foreign ministers are pushing for speedy adoption of new EU sanctions against Hamas for its “atrocious and indiscriminate terror attacks” against Israel on Oct. 7.

“The swift adoption of this sanctions regime will allow us to send a strong political message about the European Union’s commitment against Hamas and our solidarity with Israel,” the three ministers write in a letter to Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs.

The letter does not detail possible sanctions, but says it should enable the targeting of Hamas members, affiliated groups and supporters. The ministers said they broadly support a framework that Borrell outlined last week.

Foreign ministers of the 27-member bloc are meeting in Brussels today. The EU on Friday froze the funds and other assets in Europe of the commander general of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, and deputy commander Marwan Issa.

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