Brussels/Tel Aviv: Israel has strongly rejected a decision by the European Union to reassess its trade and cooperation pact with the country in light of its escalating military campaign in Gaza.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced on Tuesday that the bloc would launch a review of Israel’s adherence to human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The agreement forms the basis of diplomatic and economic relations between the two parties.
Responding to the development, Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein issued a firm rebuttal on social media, stating that the EU’s move demonstrated “a total misunderstanding of the complex reality” facing Israel.
“This war was not initiated by Israel — it was imposed upon us by Hamas,” Marmorstein said, adding that continued criticism of Israel only emboldens the militant group. He also expressed appreciation for countries that supported Israel during the EU’s deliberations and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to engaging in dialogue with European nations.
The EU’s decision to review the agreement follows mounting international criticism over Israel’s three-month-long restriction on aid to Gaza and its expanded military operations in the territory.
Seventeen of the EU’s 27 foreign ministers backed the Dutch-initiated proposal for the review. Public support came from Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, while Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia also expressed approval during Tuesday’s meeting.
Conversely, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Lithuania reportedly opposed the move, with Latvia taking a neutral stance. Austria, a known supporter of Israel, did not comment during the session.
“There is a clear majority in favour of reviewing Article 2 of the Association Agreement,” Kallas said after the meeting in Brussels. “While that process begins, Israel must ensure the immediate, unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Kallas stressed the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that the limited aid currently allowed in is vastly insufficient. “Aid must flow in urgently and at scale,” she said.
On the same day, the United Kingdom also took a tougher stance, freezing trade talks with Israel, imposing sanctions on certain West Bank settlers, and summoning Israel’s ambassador over what it called an “intolerable” military operation. This follows a joint warning from the UK, France, and Canada that “concrete actions” would follow if the situation did not improve.
Marmorstein dismissed the UK’s sanctions as “unjustified and regrettable,” adding that trade negotiations with Britain were not progressing in any case.
