Israel in Breach of Human Rights Obligations in Gaza: EU Report Suggests
An internal review by the European Union's diplomatic service found indications that Israel's actions in Gaza violated its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, Reuters reported.
The EU review comes after months of mounting concerns among European countries over Israel's operations in Gaza and the humanitarian conditions in the Strip. Breach of Obligations
On Friday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said 'there are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement,' based on assessments by independent international institutions.
The report added that Israel's ongoing 'restrictions to the provision of food, medicines, medical equipment, and other vital supplies affect the entire population of Gaza present on the affected territory.' Violating Human Rights
The EU review examines the situation in Gaza, with an entire section covering issues such as blocking the entry of humanitarian aid, attacks with mass casualties, military strikes on hospitals and medical facilities, displacement, and lack of accountability.
Furthermore, the report examines the situation in the occupied West Bank, including settler violence. In the light of this, the EU review said it 'relies on facts verified by and assessments made by independent international institutions, and with a focus on most recent events in Gaza and the West Bank.' EU-Israel Association Agreement
The EU-Israel Association Agreement – which came into force in 2000 – governs relations between the bloc and Israel across various fields. It also states that relations between both sides should be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.
In May 2025, the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that the EU would review the Association Agreement in light of the 'catastrophic situation' in Gaza, after over half of bloc's members backed conducting the review. No Concrete Action Expected
The EU Foreign Ministers will convene on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Brussels. They are expected to discuss the bloc's relations with Israel in light of the review, although they have not reached a consensus on their approach to Israel.
Some ministers might push for action following the review, but the Monday meeting is not expected to yield any concrete decisions. EU officials will likely share the review's findings with Israel, in an attempt to influence it, and will refer the issue to a July meeting. Trade Suspension
The EU review comes a day after 9 European countries, including Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, sent a letter to the European Commission, urging it to halt trade of goods and services with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The letter cited a July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which stated that Israel's settlements and occupation of Palestinian territories are in violation of international law. It also urged states to take actions to suspend trade or investment ties that could contribute to sustaining this situation.
'We have not seen a proposal to initiate discussions on how to effectively discontinue trade of goods and services with the illegal settlements. We need the European Commission to develop proposals for concrete measures to ensure compliance by the Union with the obligations identified by the Court,' the letter said.
Short link :
Post Views: 1
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia affirms its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — Saudi Arabia affirmed its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues and its contributions to alleviating the suffering of those affected by wars and disasters. Addressing the UN Economic and Social Council in Geneva, Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila said that Saudi Arabia, despite global economic challenges, continues its generous approach as one of the largest donor countries in the humanitarian and development fields. The ambassador said that humanitarian crises have become exacerbated by the increase in armed conflicts and the decline in adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that addressing the root causes of crises is crucial to alleviating human suffering. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia's participation in the global initiative to renew its commitment to international humanitarian law, launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and its hosting of several peace talks between parties to conflicts results from its belief in the importance of dialogue to achieve lasting peace. Regarding the Palestinian issue, Bin Khothaila explained that Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the serious violations and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people. He emphasized that preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and using it as a tool of war constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, reiterating Saudi Arabia's call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. The ambassador noted that a peace conference, co-chaired with France, was scheduled to be held in June, 2025 as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts within the Global Coalition to implement the two-state solution. However, recent developments in the region led to its postponement. He emphasized the importance of integrating relief and development in addressing crises, pointing to Saudi Arabia's integrated model through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Palestinian Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil released from U.S. immigration detention
NEW YORK — Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was released Friday after 104 days in federal immigration detention, becoming one of the most high-profile figures caught up in President Donald Trump's clampdown on campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza. Khalil walked out of a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who said the government had failed to prove he was a flight risk or a danger to the community. 'Petitioner is not a flight risk, and the evidence presented is that he is not a danger to the community,' Farbiarz said. 'Period, full stop.' The 26-year-old activist was arrested on March 8 at his Manhattan apartment and held as part of a broader Trump administration effort to deport noncitizen demonstrators who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Khalil, a legal U.S. resident married to a U.S. citizen, was not accused of violence or criminal behavior during the Columbia protests. Khalil served as a student spokesperson and negotiator and was not among those arrested during the demonstrations, but his visibility in media coverage made him a political target.'Justice prevailed, but it's very long overdue,' he told reporters after his release. 'This shouldn't have taken three months.'Despite Farbiarz's ruling, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday that an immigration judge at the same Louisiana facility had simultaneously denied Khalil bond and ordered him removed. DHS is appealing the federal judge's decision to release administration officials have cited Khalil's activism as grounds for deportation, claiming his presence threatens U.S. foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly backed the removal. But Judge Farbiarz ruled that foreign policy concerns alone were insufficient legal grounds to justify Khalil's continued also faces a separate deportation proceeding based on allegations he lied on his green card application — an accusation he strongly his release, Khalil is expected to travel to New York to reunite with his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, and their infant son, who was born during his must surrender his passport and cannot travel internationally but will receive documents allowing travel within the U.S. for legal and family purposes.'We know this ruling does not begin to address the injustices the Trump administration has brought upon our family,' Abdalla said in a statement.'But today we are celebrating Mahmoud coming back to New York to be reunited with our little family.'Khalil's release follows similar cases involving other scholars and students targeted for activism, including Columbia's Mohsen Mahdawi, Tufts University's Rumeysa Ozturk, and Georgetown's Badar Khan outside the detention center, Khalil condemned the Trump administration's efforts to link protest with criminality.'No one should be detained for protesting Israel's war in Gaza,' he said. 'Justice will prevail, no matter what this administration may try to portray.' — Agencies
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facility, prepares for extended conflict
TEHRAN — Israel struck a nuclear research facility in Iran early Saturday and killed multiple senior Iranian commanders, as its military warned of a potentially protracted war aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure. The Israeli military said the overnight strike targeted two centrifuge production sites near a mountain in Isfahan in a two-phase operation. It was the second attack on the city since the war began on June 13. Akbar Salehi, deputy governor for security affairs in Isfahan province, confirmed the attack caused damage but reported no human casualties. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent operations had disabled over half of Iran's missile and drone launchers. He described Iran's retaliatory drone and missile barrage overnight as a 'small-scale' attack that was mostly intercepted. 'We've created a bottleneck,' the official said. 'But Iran clearly retains capabilities.' Meanwhile, Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency service, reported that a drone hit a residential building in northern Israel, though no injuries were reported. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, Israel's chief military spokesperson, said the army has been instructed to prepare for a 'prolonged campaign' focused on eliminating nuclear enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. 'We are deepening our strikes night after night,' he said. 'We will continue until the threat is removed.' Diplomatic talks in Geneva on Friday failed to yield a breakthrough. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained open to diplomacy but would not engage with the U.S. while Israeli attacks continued. 'Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once aggression is stopped,' Araghchi said, warning that any U.S. military involvement would be 'very dangerous for everyone.' President Donald Trump is reportedly considering U.S. intervention but has delayed a decision for up to two weeks. Analysts note that only American 'bunker-buster' bombs could reach Iran's underground Fordo enrichment facility. Since June 13, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 722 people in Iran, including 285 civilians, according to an Iranian human rights group based in Washington. Over 2,500 people have been wounded. Iran has launched more than 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, killing 24 and injuring hundreds, Israeli estimates show. Among the most high-profile killings, Israel confirmed the deaths of Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Gen. Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh in its opening strikes. On Saturday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the killing of Saeed Izadi, a senior Quds Force commander tied to Hamas, in an airstrike in Qom. Another top Quds Force figure, Behnam Shahriyari, allegedly responsible for weapons transfers to Hezbollah and Hamas, was also killed in western Iran. Israel further claimed it had eliminated a senior Iranian drone commander overnight. On Friday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi warned the U.N. Security Council of the catastrophic risk of targeting Iran's only commercial nuclear reactor in Bushehr. 'A direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity,' Grossi said. So far, Israel has avoided striking the Bushehr plant, instead focusing on facilities at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan, and the Arak heavy water reactor. Iran, which once accepted international oversight under the 2015 nuclear deal, began ramping up enrichment and curbing inspections after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement. Tehran now enriches uranium up to 60%, close to weapons-grade. On Saturday, senior adviser Ali Larijani threatened Grossi in a social media post, blaming his remarks for prompting Israeli aggression. 'Grossi will pay after the war,' Larijani wrote, without elaboration. While Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, it remains the only non-nuclear-weapons state enriching uranium to 60%. Israel, which has never confirmed possessing nuclear weapons, is widely believed to be the Middle East's sole nuclear power. — Agencies
