Latest news with #AssociationAgreement
New York Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
EU leaders call for immediate cease-fire in Gaza
The European Council, composed of the heads of state or of government of the 27 E.U. member states, the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission, called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza on Thursday. The council, meeting in Brussels, called for a 'cease-fire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, leading to a permanent end to hostilities,' it said in its conclusions issued at an E.U. summit meeting in Brussels where developments in the Middle East were discussed. The council said it 'deplores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation. The European Council calls on Israel to fully lift its blockade on Gaza, to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza and to enable the U.N. and its agencies, and humanitarian organizations, to work independently and impartially to save lives and reduce suffering,' the conclusions read. 6 The European Council met in Brussels and called for a 'cease-fire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages.' dts News Agency Germany/Shutterstock 6 European Council President Antonio Costa (L), Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (C) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of a press conference after working sessions at the European Council. AFP via Getty Images The text continued: 'Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. The European Council recalls the imperative of ensuring the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as of civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, schools and U.N. premises.' The European Council also deplored 'the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages.' The E.U. leaders took note of the review report prepared by the E.U.'s External Service on Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and invited the E.U.'s foreign ministers to continue discussions on a follow-up, as appropriate, in July, taking into account the evolution of the situation on the ground. 6 According to conclusions issued at an E.U. summit, the council said it 'deplores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation.' AFP via Getty Images 6 Palestinians searching through the rubble of heavily damaged and collapsed buildings after Israeli attacks on Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. The review report concluded that there were 'indications' that Israel was in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the Association Agreement with its actions in Gaza. The Association Agreement At a meeting of the E.U. foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, E.U. foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that she would address the report results with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The E.U. foreign ministers will discuss the topic again in July to see if they decide to take measures against Israel. 'Our first goal is to change the situation on the ground [in Gaza] and help the humanitarian aid get in and help the people. So today was the beginning of the debate and not the end,' Kallas told reporters after the ministerial meeting. 6 Internally displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive limited rations amid a food shortage in Nuseirat Palestinian refugee camp. 'If the situation does not improve, then we can also discuss further measures and come back to this at the next Foreign Affairs Council in July,' she said. The review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement was decided in May after a majority of E.U. member states supported a proposal of Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp. In a letter to Kallas, Sa'ar requested to shelve the report prepared by the E.U. on Article 2 of the Association Agreement, writing: 'In the name of fairness, the flaws in the composition of the report should be addressed and it should be completely disregarded.' The report, he continued, 'completely ignores our detailed answers to the questions submitted to us.' 6 People walk away as smoke erupts from a fire following an Israeli strike at the UNRWA's Osama bin Zaid school in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP via Getty Images During the Article 2 review process, the E.U. submitted a series of question to Israel. In its answers to the questions, the Israeli foreign ministry recalled the 'strategic reality Israel is facing: since October 7, Israel has been fighting a war on seven fronts. Iran, with its extremist ideology, is aiming to eliminate the State of Israel. Iran's regime has long pursued the annihilation of the Jewish state through a nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and a network of terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. 'This plan erupted violently on October 7, when Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds, marking the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust,' the ministry added. 'It is against this backdrop—Israel's combat with a host of brutal enemies—that the E.U. was tasked with doing a 'rush job,' compiling a biased and extremely one-sided summary of many anti-Israeli voices and documents into a so-called 'honest report' for the member states of the E.U.''
LeMonde
a day ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
EU continues to hesitate on how to pressure Israel
How can pressure be exerted on Israel to halt its military operations in the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid to reach the two million starving inhabitants of the territory? While Israel's swift war against Iran, with the backing of the United States, overshadowed the fate of Palestinians for about 12 days, the issue returned to the agenda on Thursday, June 26, at the European Council summit in Brussels. As has been the case for the past 20 months, Europe remains divided. Not over their assessment of the catastrophic humanitarian situation on the ground, which all deplore, nor over the need for Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages as soon as possible. But rather, on the method and degree of political pressure they should use to compel Israel to end its deadly strikes and destruction, and to restore a safe and neutral humanitarian aid distribution system. On May 20, after 11 weeks of humanitarian blockade in the Palestinian enclave, the European Union, for the first time in 18 months of conflict, raised its tone against Israel. A majority of member states, including France, asked EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas to review the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel, to check whether Israel was complying with Article 2 of the treaty, which stipulates that both parties must respect human rights.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Irish Premier Calls For EU Sanctions On Israeli Settlers In Occupied West Bank, Far-Right Ministers
BRUSSELS, June 26 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has called on the EU to impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, as well as far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, over their role in escalating tensions, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Speaking ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, Martin stressed that the EU must take stronger action, including reviewing its Association Agreement with Israel, to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. He also criticised Israel for dismissing independent reports on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging it to engage with objective assessments rather than outright denouncing them.
Saba Yemen
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Kallas: Israel violates HR, we need to improve conditions in Gaza
Brussels - Saba: The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, called for the need to improve the situation in Gaza and emphasized Israel's violation of Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This came in press statements following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, during which the results of the EU's review of the Association Agreement with Israel were presented. Regarding the results of the review, Kallas said, "The goal is to bring about tangible improvements in the lives of the people of Gaza." Kallas confirmed that they will present the review's findings to Israel and work to improve the situation in Gaza, which is a key focus of EU member states. The European official stated that the EU's priorities in Gaza are a return to a comprehensive ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the release of prisoners. Kallas indicated that if the situation in Gaza does not improve, they could discuss additional measures against Israel. Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and displacement, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to stop it. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Saba Yemen
5 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
114 International Organizations urge EU to suspend partnership with Israel
Brussels – SABA: A total of 114 international civil society organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, called on the European Union on Monday to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel due to its commission of genocide against Palestinians and other serious violations. In a joint statement issued ahead of the EU foreign ministers' meeting—scheduled to review the suspension of the agreement—the organizations asserted that an honest review must conclude that Israel has seriously breached the agreement's human rights clause. Claudio Francavilla, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's EU office, said in a press statement that dialogue with Israel has largely failed, and that pro-Palestine protests have continued across Europe for months, fueled by harrowing scenes widely shared on social media showing atrocities and brutality in Gaza. Francavilla stressed that the review of the partnership agreement would be meaningless without real consequences, including suspending the trade component of the agreement. He also noted that Israeli human rights groups have documented that only around 3% of crimes committed in the West Bank are prosecuted, highlighting a serious lack of judicial accountability in Israel. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, serves as the legal framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the two sides. Article 2 of the agreement conditions the partnership on a commitment to human rights and international law. With continued U.S. and European support, Israel has been carrying out a campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023, that has resulted in the deaths of 55,998 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and the injury of 131,559 others, according to the latest incomplete tolls. Thousands of victims remain trapped under rubble or in unreachable areas. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
