Foreign ministers from across the European Union met in Brussels on Monday amid growing divisions over how to respond to Israel's military actions in Gaza as discussions centered on whether to trigger a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is conditioned on respect for human rights and democratic principles.
EU member states remain split in their views on how to handle the matter, with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares urging for the immediate suspension of the agreement and the imposition of an arms embargo, saying that it is not denunciations but actions that are going to stop this inhumane war in Gaza.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot echoed this view, saying that lsrael has violated Article 2 of the agreement and the EU must act by July if violations persist.
Germany and Italy were opposed to suspending the agreement, citing Israel as a strategic partner and stressing the need to maintain open channels for humanitarian coordination.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the primary goal remains improving humanitarian conditions on the ground. If no progress is made by July, the EU will revisit the possibility of stronger actions, she said.
The fractured EU response highlights how humanitarian concerns and legal obligations are increasingly complicating policy decisions across Europe, as individual strategic interests hinder the cause for unified action on the Gaza crisis.
EU remains divided over how to handle suspected Israeli violations in Gaza
