EU’s chief diplomat advocates for halting talks with Israel, reports say
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has urged the bloc to suspend discussions with Israel due to concerns over human rights violations in Gaza. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The bloc’s foreign policy chief has cited human rights violations in Gaza as the reason for his concerns, reports indicate.
Israel has overlooked EU apprehensions regarding potential human rights violations by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza, according to a letter from Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, to EU foreign ministers, as reported by several media outlets.
Borrell suggested the suspension of political ties as a means to send a “strong signal” to West Jerusalem to address the worries about the IDF’s actions, according to diplomatic sources and reports from Reuters and others.
Following a surprise incursion by the Hamas militant group into the southern part of Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel initiated a large-scale military operation against Hamas. Palestinian health authorities state that the IDF's offensive has resulted in over 40,000 fatalities and more than 92,401 injuries. The UN Human Rights Office reports that nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza have been women and children.
In Borrell’s letter, he expressed “serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza” and noted that “thus far, these concerns have not been sufficiently addressed by Israel.”
“In light of the above considerations, I will be tabling a proposal that the EU should invoke the human rights clause to suspend the political dialogue with Israel,” he wrote.
The EU engages in regular political dialogue with Israel under the EU-Israel Association Treaty, effective since 2000, which stipulates that their relations are founded on mutual respect for democracy and human rights.
Diplomatic sources revealed that Borrell presented his proposal during a meeting with EU diplomats on Wednesday and is anticipated to seek formal approval at the upcoming EU foreign ministers’ meeting early next week.
This decision would necessitate unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. However, one diplomatic source conveyed skepticism about the initiative, stating it was “a complete surprise” and that “the widespread expectation is that it will not be agreed.”
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, alongside the siege of Gaza, has attracted international condemnation in recent months, with threats of sanctions emerging. Israel's support from Western nations has steadily declined as the death toll rises and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
The UN has also condemned what it describes as systematic violations of fundamental principles of international law by Israel. The Israeli government has dismissed the report and insists that it is acting “in accordance with the principles of distinction and proportionality.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Israel has overlooked EU apprehensions regarding potential human rights violations by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza, according to a letter from Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, to EU foreign ministers, as reported by several media outlets.
Borrell suggested the suspension of political ties as a means to send a “strong signal” to West Jerusalem to address the worries about the IDF’s actions, according to diplomatic sources and reports from Reuters and others.
Following a surprise incursion by the Hamas militant group into the southern part of Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel initiated a large-scale military operation against Hamas. Palestinian health authorities state that the IDF's offensive has resulted in over 40,000 fatalities and more than 92,401 injuries. The UN Human Rights Office reports that nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza have been women and children.
In Borrell’s letter, he expressed “serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza” and noted that “thus far, these concerns have not been sufficiently addressed by Israel.”
“In light of the above considerations, I will be tabling a proposal that the EU should invoke the human rights clause to suspend the political dialogue with Israel,” he wrote.
The EU engages in regular political dialogue with Israel under the EU-Israel Association Treaty, effective since 2000, which stipulates that their relations are founded on mutual respect for democracy and human rights.
Diplomatic sources revealed that Borrell presented his proposal during a meeting with EU diplomats on Wednesday and is anticipated to seek formal approval at the upcoming EU foreign ministers’ meeting early next week.
This decision would necessitate unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. However, one diplomatic source conveyed skepticism about the initiative, stating it was “a complete surprise” and that “the widespread expectation is that it will not be agreed.”
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, alongside the siege of Gaza, has attracted international condemnation in recent months, with threats of sanctions emerging. Israel's support from Western nations has steadily declined as the death toll rises and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
The UN has also condemned what it describes as systematic violations of fundamental principles of international law by Israel. The Israeli government has dismissed the report and insists that it is acting “in accordance with the principles of distinction and proportionality.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
