The European Union has announced plans to review its extensive trade and cooperation agreement with Israel due to the country's ongoing military offensive in Gaza and its failure to fully lift a two-month blockade on humanitarian aid. This decision was made on Tuesday following support from 17 of the bloc's 27 foreign ministers, as proposed by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
The review will evaluate whether Israel has violated its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which outlines the trading and diplomatic relations between the two parties. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that there is a strong majority in favor of reviewing Article 2, emphasizing the necessity for Israel to increase humanitarian aid. “Aid must flow immediately and at scale,” Kallas remarked, highlighting that Israel's recent decision to allow a limited number of trucks into Gaza is merely a "drop in the ocean."
Article 2 of the agreement mandates that relations must be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guide both internal and international policies. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner, with annual trade valued at over €45 billion.
The push for a review gained momentum after the Netherlands, a historical ally of Israel, characterized Israel’s humanitarian blockade as a violation of international humanitarian law, thereby justifying the need for a re-evaluation of the agreement. Prior to this, Ireland and Spain had suggested reopening the Association Agreement but struggled to garner sufficient support.
In the weeks leading up to the foreign ministers' meeting, nine member states, including Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, expressed public backing for the Netherlands' proposal. Other countries, such as Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, also supported the review, while Austria did not voice any opposition.
Additionally, a proposal to impose further sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence in the West Bank received backing from 26 of the 27 member states but was vetoed by Hungary. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard suggested pursuing EU sanctions against individual Israeli ministers.
Earlier, the UK suspended trade talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador over the "intolerable" offensive in Gaza, echoing calls from UK, French, and Canadian leaders for "concrete actions" if Israel does not halt its campaign.
The EU's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict has been marked by division since Hamas' attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Former EU High Representative Josep Borrell had previously tabled the idea of suspending ties with Israel, leading to a closed-door meeting between Israeli and EU foreign ministers. As the EU prepares to navigate these complex dynamics, the need for a unified approach remains critical in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
