Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become “a problem” in resolving the Gaza conflict. She announced that Denmark will push the European Union to explore sanctions on Israel, similar to those used against Russia, as a way to pressure both sides and end the war.

In her statement, Frederiksen pointed to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and said urgent steps were needed. “Recognising Palestine here and now is not going to help the thousands of children who are currently fighting for their survival, no matter how much you want it. Instead, we need to increase the pressure on both Israel and Hamas,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

Why Denmark Rejects Immediate Recognition of Palestine

Frederiksen made it clear that Denmark will not immediately recognise a Palestinian state. She explained that such a move would not ease the suffering of civilians and might even strengthen Hamas.

Speaking to the newspaper Jyllands-Posten, she said Denmark is considering different forms of sanctions, “just as with Russia,” to make the biggest impact. These could target individual Israeli ministers, settlers, or broader areas such as trade and research. “We are not ruling anything out in advance,” she noted.

Frederiksen stressed that Denmark supports a two-state solution, but recognition must come only when conditions allow for a “sustainable and democratic” Palestinian government, free of Hamas influence, and when there is “mutual recognition of Israel.”

Criticism of Netanyahu and Israeli Policies

Frederiksen, who has long supported Israel, openly criticised Netanyahu’s leadership. She said Israel “would be better off without Netanyahu” and accused his government of harming Israel’s own long-term interests.

Frederiksen described the situation in Gaza as “absolutely appalling and catastrophic” and condemned both settlement expansion and settler violence. She also opposed plans to build more than 3,000 housing units in the sensitive E1 area of the West Bank.

Denmark’s Stand

Frederiksen reiterated that Denmark will not follow other European countries that have recently recognised Palestine. “Recognising Palestine here and now is not going to help the thousands of children currently fighting for their survival,” she repeated in her Facebook post. She also warned that Denmark does not want to “reward” Hamas.

According to her, recognition should come only when it truly advances peace—“when a sustainable and democratic state in Palestine can be secured without the influence of Hamas,” and when there is equal recognition of Israel.