An EU report mentions violations of human rights by Israel. The subject will be discussed by foreign ministers
The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, February 24, 2025. Photo: Dursun Aydemir / AFP / Profimedia
The diplomatic service of the European Union claims that there are indications that Israel has violated the obligations related to the respect of human rights provided in the pact that regulates the relations with the communicated block, according to a document consulted by Reuters.
Invoking equations of some independent international institutions, the European External Action Service states that “there are indications that Israel violates the human rights obligations provided in Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.”
The report comes after several months of increasing concerns in the European capitals on Israel's operations in Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the enclave.
“Israel's constant restrictions on supply of food, medicines, medical equipment and other vital provisions affect the entire population in Gaza,” the document shows.
The High Representative of the EU for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, announced in May that the Union will examine whether Israel complies with the provisions of the agreement with the Community Bloc, after more than half of the EU have supported this evaluation.
According to the agreement, applied since 2000, the EU and Israel have agreed that their relationship “will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.” Israel claims to respect international law and that Gaza operations are needed to destroy Hamas, the Palestian group responsible for attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The document drafted by the EU's diplomatic service includes a section on the situation in Gaza, which covers the problem related to blocking humanitarian aid, attacks with a large number of victims, attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, transmuting the population and lack of responsibility for the culprits. The report also refers to the situation in the Westordan, including the violence of Jewish colonists against Palestinians.
The document is based on “verified facts and evaluations made by independent international institutions and with an emphasis on the latest events in Gaza and the Westordan”.
The evaluation was proposed at the beginning of May by the Dutch Minister of Caspar Veldkamp, who has shown concerned about the Israeli policies who “exacerbates a already serious humanitarian situation.”
The EU foreign ministers will discuss the report in a meeting that will take place in Brussels. Although some ministers could hold report -based actions, no concrete decisions are expected in the Monday session.
Diplomats expect EU officials to approach Israel based on the report in an effort to influence their behavior and that ministers will resume the subject in a new meeting in July.
