AhlulBayt News Agency: The European Union has taken its first formal step toward reassessing its political and economic relationship with Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The reassessment comes as Tel Aviv continues its near-total blockade of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.
During a high-level meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, EU foreign ministers discussed the worsening crisis in Gaza. Following these talks, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, confirmed that the European Commission would begin reviewing the "Association Agreement," which governs bilateral relations between the EU and Israel.
Kallas stated that while a limited amount of humanitarian aid had been allowed into Gaza, the aid flow remained drastically insufficient. She described the assistance as "a drop in the ocean," emphasizing that the EU is funding much of this aid and that it must reach the Palestinian population.
The review process coincides with Israel’s intensified military operations, especially in Rafah, in southern Gaza. The heightened aggression has led to mass displacement, destroyed essential infrastructure, and left Gaza’s healthcare and humanitarian systems on the brink of collapse.
The United Nations has stressed that Gaza requires at least 500 aid and commercial trucks daily to meet basic needs. However, earlier this week, reports indicated that only about 100 trucks were permitted entry. Human rights groups have described Israel’s strategy as using starvation and blockade as weapons of war.
Several EU member states, including Spain, Ireland, Belgium, and France, have openly opposed the Israeli offensive. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has called for direct sanctions against Israel. The Spanish Parliament has also passed a motion to halt all arms sales to Tel Aviv, following Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s declaration that "Spain will not do business with a genocidal state."
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has welcomed Spain’s move and urged other global parliaments to impose similar sanctions. The group has also called for Israel to face international isolation as a "pariah entity."
Additionally, the leaders of France, the UK, and Canada have issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s aggression in Gaza. They labeled its restrictions on aid as "wholly disproportionate" and warned that further action would be taken if the situation did not improve. However, they did not specify what measures might be imposed.
Despite growing pressure, the EU remains divided. Countries such as Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic continue to align closely with Israel, citing security concerns and historical ties.
Hugh Lovatt, an analyst with the European Council on Foreign Relations, criticized what he described as the EU’s double standard in applying international law to Israel. He noted that political inclinations in some EU member states had long shielded Tel Aviv from accountability.
Former EU ambassador James Moran, now with the Centre for European Policy Studies, echoed similar concerns. He warned that internal divisions within the bloc had left the EU "politically paralyzed" in its approach to Israel.
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