Israel’s Gaza plan ‘must have consequences for EU-Israel relations’, says Costa
Israel’s decision to take over Gaza City “must have consequences for EU-Israel relations”, EU Council President Antonio Costa says on X, adding that this will be assessed by the council and that he urged the Israeli government to reconsider.
“Not only [does the decision] violate the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19 but also undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values,” Costa, who heads the European Council that represents EU member states, added in his statement.
I strongly urge the Israeli government to reconsider its decision to take over Gaza City. Such an operation — together with the continued illegal expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the massive destruction in Gaza, the blockade of humanitarian aid, and the spread of famine…
— António Costa (@eucopresident) August 8, 2025
Instead scrambling back already
Norway’s wealth fund avoids blanket withdrawal from Israel over Gaza war
Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund will change its handling of investments in Israel but rules out any blanket withdrawal over the war on Gaza, according to Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
“I see several measures over time, but what can be addressed quickly must be done quickly,” the former NATO secretary-general said at a news conference after holding his second meeting with sovereign wealth fund officials in three days.
Stoltenberg ruled out divestments, saying, “If we did that, it would mean we are divesting from them because they are Israeli.”
The fund itself said it would provide an update on its Israeli investments on Tuesday. The government this week launched an urgent review of the investments over ethics concerns linked to the war in Gaza and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
Err Israel is committing genocide. You should be divesting from them because they are Israeli...
