The European Union plans to reconsider its comprehensive trade and cooperation pact with Israel due to its expanded operations in Gaza and its inadequate efforts to completely remove the two-month-long assistance embargo.
The decision was made on Tuesday following support from 17 out of the 27 foreign ministers within the group. This backing followed an initiative put forward earlier this month by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
This indicates that the European Union administration will initiate an assessment to determine if Israel has breached its human rights responsibilities as outlined in Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This comprehensive agreement delineates the trade and diplomatic ties between the two entities.
"Today’s discussions clearly indicate a significant consensus supporting a reassessment of Article 2 within our Association Agreement with Israel," stated Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, to journalists in Brussels.
We will initiate this review, and during this period, it is upon Israel to distribute additional humanitarian aid.
Article 2 indicates that relationships should be founded on respecting human rights and adhering to democratic principles, guiding both domestic and foreign policies and serving as an essential component of this accord.
Israel reacted to Kallas' declaration made late Tuesday. A foreign ministry spokesperson named Oren Marmorstein posted a statement on the social media site X, outlining their disapproval of the European Union's move to reconsider its relationship with Israel based on this decision.
Marmorstein emphasized that Israel finds itself in a defensive stance in a conflict "thrust upon it by Hamas." The statement also aimed to inform the EU that the Israeli administration had agreed to several US suggestions for ceasefires and hostage swap arrangements — which were rejected by Hamas.
“Ignoring these realities and criticising Israel only hardens Hamas’s position and encourages Hamas to stick to its guns. Hamas’s recent praise for such criticism is a clear indication of this and results in prolonging the war,” said Marmorstein.
The foreign ministry spokesperson additionally condemned the European Union for disregarding recent efforts by both the United States and Israel aimed at facilitating the delivery of assistance into the region. Meanwhile, they commended those nations that acknowledge "this situation" and continue to back Israel.
Marmorstein also suggested that Israel is ready for discussions with European Union representatives and its member states to address the matter, concluding his statement by urging Brussels to apply pressure "on those who deserve it — Hamas."
The European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner, with their commercial exchange amounting to over €45 billion annually.
Ireland and Spain first tabled the prospect of re-opening the Association Agreement in a yet-unanswered letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 15 months ago , but did not manage to gain strong support from any additional EU nation.
However, the initiative has picked up fresh speed recently as the Netherlands, seen as a staunch supporter of Israel, stated that Israel’s “humanitarian blockade” on Gaza—where essential provisions started flowing again after over eleven weeks on Monday—is "in breach of international humanitarian law," thus violating Article 2.
Nine member states — Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — had publicly backed the Netherlands' proposal ahead of Tuesday's gathering of foreign ministers.
Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia also backed the review on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources. Austria, a staunch supporter of Israel, did not take the floor to voice any opposition, another diplomat said.
It was mentioned that Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Lithuania opposed the idea, whereas Latvia remained "neutral," according to these sources.
A suggestion to increase pressure on Israel through additional sanctions targeting Israeli settlers involved in violence within the West Bank gained support from 26 out of 27 EU countries but was blocked by Hungary.
The Swedish Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, indicated that she was prepared to take additional steps and "advocate for EU sanctions targeting specific Israeli ministers."
Previously on Tuesday, the UK suspended Trade discussions were held, and the Israeli ambassador was called upon due to their description of the operations in Gaza as "unacceptable." This followed threats from the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada of potential "firm measures" should Israel continue its operation and fail to ease restrictions.
The European Union's stance regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which began with Hamas' assaults on Israel on October 7, 2023, has consistently been marked by significant division.
Former EU High Representative Josep Borrell personally proposed the possibility of severing relations with Israel last November, leading to a closed-door meeting between the Israeli foreign minister and his European Union counterparts.
During that meeting led by Borrell's replacement, Kaja Kallas, there were demands to reassess Article 2. completely muted with a truce established in Gaza.
The nearly three-month-long embargo on allowing assistance into the area appears to have prompted a change in mindset among the 27 nations involved.
The top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated that although Israel’s move to permit a restricted amount of trucks into the region was “welcomed”, it amounted to merely “a drop in the ocean”.
"Assistance needs to be released right away and in large volumes," Kallas stated.
With extra reporting by Jorge Liboreiro