European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib has suggested that achieving lasting peace in Gaza may require a change in Israel's leadership. In an interview with Politico, the Belgian commissioner stated that long-term peace efforts are being hindered by "extremists who refuse to even consider a two-state solution," referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
"We sometimes hear unacceptable statements from responsible officials who are heads of state," Lahbib noted, expressing doubt about Netanyahu's genuine interest in a peaceful settlement. "I have my doubts. He has maintained the ceasefire so far, so we'll see what happens next. But we know he opposes the two-state solution."
The EU commissioner added that the European Union should not rule out using sanctions against Israel or suspending certain provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. "On the contrary, the past two years have shown we need leverage," she stated.
However, Lahbib refrained from characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, emphasizing that "only a court can make that determination."
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Based on materials of TASS