The EU should look at barring "extremist" Israelis who call for violence against Palestinians from visiting Europe, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday.
He pointed to Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and said the lack of action against such “violent extremists” was “unacceptable”.
"Our country must ensure that those who commit serious crimes, for example, those who commit violence in the West Bank, can be prevented from entering our country and the European Union," De Croo told the Belgian parliament.
He suggested there could be sanctions on individuals, including "a minister who calls for the use of nuclear weapons against a population that cannot do anything and that already lives today in horrible conditions".
After more than one month of Israeli airstrikes in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, hundreds of civilians remain stranded amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the northern Gaza, according to the UN.
At least 1,400 people in Israel, mostly civilians, were killed on day one of the Hamas attack. Roughly 240 Israelis and foreigners were abducted and transferred to the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-ruled health ministry announced on Thursday that 10,812 Palestinians, including 4,412 children, were killed.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the war between Israel and Hamas on Monday.
