Ireland and Spain are seeking an “urgent review” of whether Israel is complying with human rights obligations under its trade agreement with the EU, according to a joint letter seen by Euractiv.

“We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza (…) The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront,” the two countries said in a joint letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell.

The EU has struggled for a united stance on the conflict in Gaza as staunch backers of Israel such as Germany have rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire voiced by countries like Spain and Ireland. Hungary and the Czech Republic continue to hold back sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

‘Appropriate measures’

The two countries ask the EU’s executive to propose “appropriate measures” that could be taken if Israel is found to be in breach of the obligations in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, according to the document, dated 14 February and signed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

“Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe (…) we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship,” the two leaders wrote. [...]

Israel currently receives about €1.8 million per year as part of the bloc’s European Neighbourhood Policy and is an associated country of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme.

The letter added that if the Commission “considers that [Israel] is in breach, that it proposes appropriate measures to the [European] Council to consider”. [...]

Reacting to the joint move, the European Commission has confirmed the letter has been received, but said it will not comment further until it has been studied. [...]