EU Set to Consider Sanctions on Israel Over Human Rights Concerns Amid Gaza Conflict

The European Union on Thursday announced 10 potential measures against Israel over concerns it violated human rights commitments under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a pact governing the EU’s political and economic ties with the Jewish state.

According to Reuters, the European Union’s diplomatic service (EEAS) drafted a document for member countries outlining options that range from major actions, such as suspending the trade-related agreement, to smaller measures like pausing technical cooperation projects.

This latest anti-Israel initiative follows a recent EU-commissioned report accusing Israel of committing “indiscriminate attacks … starvation … torture … [and] apartheid” against Palestinians in Gaza during its military campaign against Hamas, an internationally designated terrorist group.

According to the report, “there are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations” under the 25-year-old EU-Israel Association Agreement.

While the document acknowledges the reality of violence by Hamas, it states that this issue lies outside its scope — failing to address the Palestinian terrorist group’s role in sparking the current war with its bloody rampage across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israeli officials have slammed the report as factually incorrect and morally flawed, noting that Hamas embeds its military infrastructure within civilian targets and Israel’s army takes extensive precautions to try and avoid civilian casualties.

EU foreign ministers are set to discuss these potential options against the Jewish state at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Most of these measures will require approval from all or a majority of the EU’s 27 member countries.

Despite efforts by some European countries to undermine Israel’s defensive campaign against Hamas in Gaza, Jerusalem continues to have support within the EU. For example, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has made clear that Rome opposes any suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Germany has also rejected calls to suspend the pact.

Following calls from a majority of EU member states for a formal investigation, last month’s report builds on Belgium’s recent decision to review Israel’s compliance with the trade agreement, a process initiated by the Netherlands and led by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Meanwhile, Kallas announced Thursday that the EU has reached an agreement with Israel to expand humanitarian access to Gaza.

In a statement on X, the EU’s top diplomat said the deal will open more crossings, allow increased aid and food deliveries, facilitate repairs to vital infrastructure, and ensure the protection of aid workers.

Last month, Ireland became the first European nation to push forward legislation banning trade with Israeli communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, an effort officials say is meant “to address the horrifying situation” in the Gaza Strip.

Ireland’s decision comes after a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.

The ICJ ruled that third countries must avoid trade or investment that supports “the illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

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