JERUSALEM — Israel has said it rejects a decision by the European Union to review the bloc's wide-ranging trade and cooperation pact with the country over its intensified offensive in Gaza.
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on Tuesday that the bloc would examine if Israel has violated its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which defines the trading and diplomatic relations between both sides.
In a statement shared on X late on Tuesday, Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein dismissed Kallas' announcement.
"We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing," Marmorstein wrote on X.
"This war was forced upon Israel by Hamas, and Hamas is the one responsible for its continuation," he emphasized.
"Ignoring these realities and criticizing Israel only hardens Hamas’ position and encourages Hamas to stick to its guns."
Marmorstein also thanked nations that supported Israel in the discussion and said the country remained committed to open dialogue with the EU and its member states.
International pressure is mounting on Israel following a nearly three-month blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a widened offensive it has launched in the Strip.
The EU's decision came after 17 of the bloc's 27 foreign ministers backed the review, which was tabled earlier this month by the Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
Nine member states — Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — had publicly backed the Dutch proposal ahead of Tuesday's gathering of foreign ministers.
Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia also backed the review on Tuesday, diplomatic sources told Euronews. Austria, a strong supporter of Israel, did not take the floor to voice any opposition, another diplomat said.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania were said to be against, while Latvia was "neutral", the sources also said.
"It is clear from today's discussions that there is a strong majority in favor of a review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel," Kallas told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday. "We will launch this review and in the meantime, it is up to Israel to release more humanitarian aid."
"The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The aid that Israel has allowed in is of course welcomed, but it's a drop in the ocean. Aid must flow immediately, without obstruction and at scale, because this is what is needed," Kallas added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UK had suspended trade talks, hit West Bank settlers with sanctions, and summoned the country's Israeli ambassador over what it described as the "intolerable" offensive in Gaza. It came after the leaders of the UK, France and Canada threatened "concrete actions" if Israel did not halt its campaign and aid lift restrictions.
In response, Marmorstein called the sanctions against West Bank settlers "unjustified and regrettable" and said the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced by the UK anyway. — Euronews
