EU flags Israel for potential human rights breach in Gaza, review of key trade agreement underway
Brussels: The European Union has acknowledged “indications” that Israel may be breaching human rights obligations in Gaza, according to a confidential document leaked to The Guardian. While the document stops short of recommending sanctions, it marks a critical turning point in EU-Israel relations.
Prepared by the EU’s foreign policy service and set to be presented by foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the document states that Israel could be in violation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. That agreement, signed in 1995, forms the backbone of a €68 billion trade relationship between Israel and the 27-member bloc.
The Guardian reports that this internal paper draws upon findings by the International Court of Justice, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other international bodies. However, it clarifies that the assessment does not reflect a formal value judgment by any EU official.
The review was initiated after 17 EU member states, including the Netherlands, a traditionally close ally of Israel raised concerns over Israel’s military actions and blockade in Gaza. Since October 2023, more than 55,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Despite EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s reiteration of Israel’s right to self-defense during its conflict with Iran, criticism has grown over Europe’s muted response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 100 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, recently urged the EU to suspend the agreement, warning that continued trade without action would “destroy” the EU’s credibility.
In an earlier commentary reported by The Guardian, Amnesty’s EU head Eve Geddie said the review had come “tragically, devastatingly late,” accusing Israeli forces of growing more emboldened over time.
The political divide within the EU continues to hamper decisive action. Full suspension of the agreement would require unanimity, a highly unlikely outcome due to expected vetoes from countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Even partial suspensions, such as barring Israel from the Horizon research programme (from which it has received €831 million since 2021), remain uncertain.
A separate letter from eight EU countries, led by Belgium, also urged the EU to halt trade in goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. That request stems from an ICJ advisory opinion last year calling on all states not to recognize Israel’s occupation as lawful.
As The Guardian highlights, the push for a policy shift gained momentum last month following mass protests in the Netherlands. The Dutch foreign minister, Casper Veldkamp, declared Israel’s blockade of Gaza to be in violation of international law and urged a reassessment of the EU-Israel agreement.
Despite these developments, internal EU disagreements persist. In statements covered by The Guardian, Kaja Kallas noted that while she sympathised with demands for action, sanctions require unanimity. “Sanctions that will not pass only highlight our lack of unity,” she said.
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Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat
Washington (AP): Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration's war in Iran.
Kent said on social media Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote.
As head of the National Counterterrorism Centre, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.
Before entering President Donald Trump's administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. He also served in the military, seeing 11 deployments as a Green Beret, followed by work at the CIA.
Democrats strongly opposed Kent's confirmation, pointing to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to distance himself from a conspiracy theory that federal agents instigated the January 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as false claims that Trump, a Republican, won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.
Democrats grilled Kent on his participation in a group chat on Signal that was used by Trump's national security team to discuss sensitive military plans.
Still, Republicans praised Kent's counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.
Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had "dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”
