A highly anticipated review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is expected to conclude that Israel has violated its obligations under the agreement’s human rights and international law clauses during its ongoing military operations in Gaza, RTÉ News has learned.
The findings of the review, commissioned by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas following a request from the Dutch government, will be circulated to member states on Friday. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the matter at their monthly meeting in Brussels on Monday, while EU leaders will be briefed at a summit later in the week.
While the review is expected to find Israel in breach of Article 2 of the agreement — which requires respect for human rights and international humanitarian law — member states are not likely to move immediately toward imposing sanctions. Diplomats say the issue will likely be revisited during the next meeting of foreign ministers in July.
Concerns over divisions among EU member states, particularly long-standing opposition to sanctioning Israel from countries such as Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, have contributed to a cautious approach. EU officials are reportedly hoping that Israel will significantly increase humanitarian access to Gaza to stave off any punitive action.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, in effect since 2000, governs a wide array of relations between both parties, including trade, research, cultural exchanges, and political dialogue. Calls to review the agreement intensified after Israel expanded its military campaign in Gaza and imposed a blockade following the collapse of a ceasefire in March.
Ireland and Spain led initial efforts for the review last year, but only after the humanitarian situation deteriorated further did the majority of EU member states back the Dutch proposal for a formal investigation.
Speaking to the European Parliament this week, Kallas stated: “Israel has a right to self-defence. But what we see in practice from Israel goes beyond self-defence. Blocking food and medicine for Palestinians trapped in Gaza doesn’t protect Israel… It undermines decades of humanitarian principles.”
The review’s release comes as more than 100 international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Oxfam Ireland, and ActionAid, issued a joint statement calling on the EU to suspend all or parts of its trade agreement with Israel. The groups cited extensive documentation of alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international law in Gaza and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The statement argues that “a credible review can only reach one conclusion: that Israel is in severe non-compliance with Article 2” and urges the EU to adopt “meaningful and concrete measures.”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza continues, adding further legal weight to international scrutiny.
Though no final decision on trade sanctions is expected on Monday, the pressure is mounting within and outside the EU for action, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and the political costs of inaction grow.
