European nations call for EU review of Israel agreement over Gaza violations

In this context, France has called on the European Commission to urgently review the EU’s association agreement with Israel, citing the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and concerns over Israel’s compliance with human rights obligations.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Info radio yesterday that the EU-Israel partnership must be reassessed in light of Israel’s role in obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“This is a legitimate request and I call on the European Commission to examine it,” Barrot said.

Barrot strongly criticized Israel’s approach to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“I think we have to express the reality in words. The reality is that Palestinians in Gaza are starving, thirsty, have nothing, and that Gaza today is on the brink of chaos and famine,” he said.

Moreover, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Defence Affairs, Simon Harris, yesterday called on the European Union to review the EU partnership agreement with Israel over human rights violations in Gaza.

Posting on X, Harris pointed to the agreement’s human rights clause, which requires EU-Israel relations to be grounded in respect for international law.

“The EU-Israel Association Agreement has clauses on human rights. It says relations shall be based on respect for human rights. These words must have meaning. There must be a review of the agreement. The world is not doing nearly enough,” he wrote.