European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she delivers a major state of the union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Pascal Bastien)2025-09-10T08:13:16Z STRASBOURG, France (AP) The European Commission president said Wednesday she would seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza, an announcement that marked a sharp turnaround for Ursula von der Leyen, a longtime supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 27-nation EU is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and its unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse the sanctions and trade measures.Von der Leyen added that the commission will set up a Palestine donor group next month, part of which will focus on Gazas future reconstruction. She said the events in Gaza and the suffering of children and families has shaken the conscience of the world.The Gaza Health Ministry says 126 Palestinians, including 26 children, have died of causes related to malnutrition since international experts announced famine in Gaza City on Aug. 22. Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop, Von der Leyen said Wednesday, to applause in the European Parliament at its meeting in Strasbourg, France.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a social media post, said Von der Leyen had succumbed to pressures that undermine Israel-Europe relations. He said her actions will embolden Hamas. Warning Gaza City residents to evacuateVon der Leyens comments followed Israels military warning on Tuesday to Gaza City residents to evacuate ahead of its plans to take control of what it portrays as Hamas last remaining stronghold and where hundreds of thousands of people remain under conditions of famine. An estimated 1 million Palestinians around half of Gazas overall population live in the area of north Gaza around Gaza City, according to the Israeli military and the United Nations. Many are exhausted from moving multiple times and unsure if traveling south will be safer.The warning came on Tuesday ahead of an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, where negotiations over ending the war in Gaza appeared at a standstill. The warnings directed at Gaza City are the first calling for a full evacuation. EU Commission plans to freeze Israel supportVon der Leyen also said she plans to freeze support to Israel given by the European Unions executive branch, which would not require the approval of the 27 member countries.It was not immediately clear how much financial support the executive branch, known as the European Commission, provides to Israel and what it is used for.We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas, without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial, von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.The commission also gives support to the Palestinian Authority. War nears its 2-year anniversaryThe war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and killed some 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians. Forty-eight hostages are still held inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed to be alive.Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry, which is under Gazas Hamas government, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of those killed were women and children. The U.N. and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties.Large parts of major cities in Gaza have been completely destroyed and around 90% of some 2 million Palestinians have been displaced.