By Euronews
Published on
21/05/2025 – 11:09 GMT+2
Israel has mentioned it rejects a call through the European Union to study the bloc’s wide-ranging industry and cooperation pact with the rustic over its intensified offensive in Gaza.
The EU’s international coverage leader Kaja Kallas mentioned on Tuesday that the bloc would read about if Israel has violated its human rights duties beneath Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which defines the buying and selling and diplomatic family members between each side.
In a commentary shared on X overdue on Tuesday, Israeli international ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein pushed aside Kallas’ announcement.
“We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing,” Marmorstein wrote on X.
“This war was forced upon Israel by Hamas, and Hamas is the one responsible for its continuation,” he emphasized.
“Ignoring these realities and criticising Israel only hardens Hamas’ position and encourages Hamas to stick to its guns.”
Marmorstein additionally thanked international locations that supported Israel within the dialogue and mentioned the rustic remained dedicated to open discussion with the EU and its member states.
Kallas: Strong majority in favour
International power is mounting on Israel following a just about three-month blockade of humanitarian assist into Gaza, and a widened offensive it has introduced within the Strip.
The EU’s resolution got here after 17 of the bloc’s 27 international ministers subsidized the overview, which was once tabled previous this month through the Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
Nine member states — Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — had publicly subsidized the Dutch proposal forward of Tuesday’s accumulating of international ministers.
Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia additionally subsidized the overview on Tuesday, diplomatic resources informed Euronews. Austria, a robust supporter of Israel, didn’t take the ground to voice any opposition, every other diplomat mentioned.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania have been mentioned to be towards, whilst Latvia was once “neutral”, the resources additionally mentioned.
“It is clear from today’s discussions that there is a strong majority in favour of a review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel,” Kallas informed newshounds in Brussels on Tuesday. “We will launch this review and in the meantime, it is up to Israel to release more humanitarian aid.”
“The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The aid that Israel has allowed in is of course welcomed, but it’s a drop in the ocean. Aid must flow immediately, without obstruction and at scale, because this is what is needed,” Kallas added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United Kingdom had suspended industry talks, hit West Bank settlers with sanctions, and summoned the rustic’s Israeli ambassador over what it described because the “intolerable” offensive in Gaza. It got here after the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada threatened “concrete actions” if Israel didn’t halt its marketing campaign and assist elevate restrictions.
In reaction, Marmorstein known as the sanctions towards West Bank settlers “unjustified and regrettable” and mentioned the unfastened industry settlement negotiations weren’t being complex through the United Kingdom anyway.
Additional resources • AP
