Danish PM Mette Frederiksen Considers Sanctions Against Israel Amid Gaza Crisis

Danish Prime Minister Signals Potential Sanctions Against Israel

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced in August 2025 that Denmark is actively considering imposing sanctions and other forms of pressure against Israel. The statement, made during an interview with the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, signals a potential shift in Copenhagen's approach amidst growing international concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israeli actions in the West Bank.

Concerns Over Humanitarian Situation and Israeli Policies

Frederiksen's consideration of sanctions stems from what she described as the 'absolutely appalling and catastrophic' humanitarian situation in Gaza. She also criticized Israel's actions in the West Bank, including settlement expansion and the blocking of humanitarian aid. In a notable comment, the Prime Minister stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'is now a problem in himself' and suggested that Israel 'would be better off without Netanyahu.' Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, had previously expressed openness to discussing new sanctions in June 2025, emphasizing the need for Israel to ensure humanitarian aid access.

Scope of Potential Measures and EU Context

Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark is 'not ruling anything out in advance,' drawing a parallel to sanctions imposed on Russia. She stated, 'Just as with Russia, we are designing the sanctions to target where we believe they will have the greatest effect.' Potential measures could include:

• Political pressure
• Sanctions against settlers
• Sanctions against ministers
• Broader sanctions targeting Israel as a whole, including trade or research restrictions

As Denmark held the EU presidency at the time of Frederiksen's remarks, her statements carry significant weight within the European Union. She acknowledged that while Denmark is among the countries seeking to increase pressure on Israel, it had 'not yet obtained the support of EU members' for broader sanctions. However, the European Commission has also proposed new sanctions, including suspending bilateral support (with exceptions for civil society and Yad Vashem) and targeted sanctions against extremist ministers and violent settlers, as well as a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement's trade aspects. Reports indicate that 17 European countries have studied imposing sanctions, with Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot suggesting most support punitive measures. Conversely, some EU members, such as Hungary and Germany, have reportedly opposed sanctions against Israel.

International Reactions and Denmark's Stance on Palestinian Statehood

In response to Frederiksen's comments, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar dismissed her criticism as an 'insult' to the Israeli democratic system and asserted that threats of sanctions 'will have no effect on Israel at all.' Despite considering sanctions, Denmark is not among the countries that have recently announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state. Frederiksen clarified that Denmark would not recognize a Palestinian state as long as Hamas controls significant parts of the territories, stating that Copenhagen does not wish to 'reward' Hamas.