France, Germany, and Italy Call for Increased Sanctions Against Hamas

France, Germany, and Italy have urged the European Union to create a special sanctions plan targeting the Hamas group. Hamas, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, is recognized as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States. Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers are set to meet on Monday to discuss possible next steps in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis. According to Reuters, potential actions for consideration at that meeting include financial suppression of Hamas and travel bans for Israeli settlers deemed responsible for violence in the West Bank. Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Mikhail Bogdanov, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister, has been in phone contact with Hamas and other Palestinian groups on Sunday and Monday, calling for the release of hostages. Hamas took approximately 240 citizens from various countries hostage during its attack on southern Israel on October 7. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with leaders of various Middle Eastern countries, and this request is being made public following those discussions. In Egypt, about 12 UN Security Council envoys visited the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Monday. Their visit comes just days after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that thousands of people in Gaza are 'simply hungry.' Clashes between Israel and Hamas intensified across Gaza on Monday, raising UN concerns regarding public order and the mass migration of Palestinians to Egypt. Over the past two months of conflict, a significant portion of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes, with residents stating that finding shelter in this densely populated area is impossible. Reports indicate that approximately 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza so far. The ongoing war began after Hamas and Islamic Jihad's attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths. Netanyahu warned that if Hezbollah takes comprehensive action, Beirut will become another Gaza. The US ambassador to the UN did not comment on Guterres' 'call for a ceasefire' in the Israel-Hamas war.