A review of the agreement reveals that there are indications that Israel may have violated its human rights obligations under the terms of a pact governing its ties to the EU.
The European External Action Service stated in an EU document released on Friday that Israel’s actions in Gaza were likely to be against the guidelines set forth in the EU-Israel Association.
According to the independent international institutions’ assessments, there are indications that Israel would violate its human rights, according to the EU’s diplomatic service’s audit.
Following months of growing concern in European capitals over Israel’s operations in Gaza and the enclave’s humanitarian situation, the report is released.
The entire Gazan population, which is present in the affected territory, is affected by Israel’s continued restrictions on the provision of food, medicines, medical equipment, and other essential supplies, it said.
According to Reuters, the document includes a section on the situation in Gaza, which includes issues relating to the denial of humanitarian aid, attacks that result in significant casualties, displacement, and lack of accountability, as well as the situation in the occupied West Bank, including settler violence.
According to the document, “facts verified by and assessments made by independent international institutions, with a focus on the most recent events in Gaza and the West Bank” are used.
In a push supported by 17 states and led by the Netherlands, the audit was launched last month in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The report’s findings are expected to be presented to the bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat.
agreement between the EU and Israel
Under the agreement between the EU and Israel, which came into effect in 2000, the two parties agreed that their relationship would be based on “respect for human rights and democratic principles”.
According to diplomats, it would be nearly impossible to suspend the agreement without the bloc’s 27 members’ unanimous consent.
Diplomats have told AFP that they anticipate Kallas to make recommendations for a possible response to the report at the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting in July.
Prior to the review’s findings, an unnamed diplomat told the news agency, “The question is how many member states would still be willing to do nothing and still continue to say it’s business as usual.”
They remarked, “It’s really important to avoid falling into Israel’s trap by looking elsewhere.”
With 42. 6 billion euros ($48.2 billion) in goods traded in 2024, the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. Trade in services reached 25.6 billion euros ($29.5bn) in 2023.
