According to Busch, it is a "complete humanitarian disaster" in Gaza, and all parties must do more for emergency aid to get through, including Israel.
The government agrees that it is time to increase the economic pressure on Israel, she says and continues:
This means that we want to review and are prepared to pause the relief in customs benefits that Israel has with the EU. The starting point is balance in the pressure between the responsibility that Israel has in following international law and trying to do more to get emergency aid through, and balance in increased pressure on Hamas, says Busch.
Busch opened up last week to reconsider the government's stance, after the government demanded that the EU freeze the trade agreement with Israel "as soon as possible". Representatives of The Christian Democrats were critical of the decision, and Busch said she shared parts of the criticism and that "there is reason for it". She then meant that the government's position was presented in an unbalanced way, and that the focus was too one-sided on Israel.
Busch says now that she wished to emphasize extra what is the government's line, the responsibility that the terror-stamped Hamas has. They have responsibility for the war starting, and a responsibility for the hostages being released, she means.
Israel has the right to defend itself and try to free the hostages, but it must be exercised within the framework of international law, she says.
