EU review says Israel’s Gaza actions violate trade pact

A new evaluation of the EU and Israel trade pact has found that Israel violated the pact due to its actions and strikes in Gaza, Middle East Eye reported on June 19th.

In May, European Union foreign policy head Kaja Kallas commissioned the review following a request from the Dutch government. Diplomatic officials in Brussels have claimed that the review found Israel breached the deal’s human rights and international law provisions. The EU stands as the main trade partner of the Middle Eastern state.

Sources report the review does in fact offer evidence that Israel violated international humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict.

Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip prompted the review, amid global horror over the continuous airstrikes, according to The Guardian on June 20th. The Gaza health ministry stated the attacks have ravaged the area and caused over 55,600 deaths, since October 7th 2023.

On May 6th, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that 66,000 children face extreme hunger due to Israel’s Gaza food blockade. As Maghrebi cited via Middle East Eye, medical sources confirmed over 57 deaths from starvation since October.

Diplomats foresee a “difficult” discussion and think no consensus will form on whether to “suspend political dialogue” or enforce sanctions on Israel. Diplomats also believe EU foreign ministers will revisit those matters during a meeting on July 15th.

Israel’s strikes on Iran complicate the EU debate and may deter some states from pressuring Israel. Middle East Eye also claims that EU foreign ministers authorised Kallas to promote reduced tensions between Israel and Iran. Kallas reportedly intends to travel to the Middle East in the coming week.

Eve Geddie, who leads Amnesty International’s EU branch, stated the move to release a review has occurred “tragically, devastatingly late” and noted that Israeli troops grew “more and more emboldened” over time.

Middle East Eye, The Guardian, Maghrebi.org