A formal European Union review has concluded that Israel is in repeated violation of the human rights clause of its partnership agreement with the EU, raising serious questions about the future of their cooperation.
Ramy Abdu, head of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, revealed that the European External Action Service (EEAS) found Israel in breach of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which obliges both parties to uphold human rights and democratic principles.
According to the findings, the ongoing blockade of Gaza amounts to collective punishment, with Israel accused of weaponising starvation by cutting off essential supplies of food, water, and medicine. The report further documents deliberate strikes on hospitals, aid centres, and areas housing displaced civilians.
Commissioned by 17 European countries, including the Netherlands, the review was circulated among EU member states on Friday and is expected to be discussed at the next foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday.
Described by Abdu as the EU’s most damning assessment of Israeli conduct since the onset of the war on Gaza, the report places Europe before a critical moral and legal reckoning. Yet despite the gravity of the conclusions, no immediate action, such as suspending the agreement, is anticipated before the July summit, amid reported obstruction from influential EU states supplying arms or shielding Israel diplomatically.
Abdu also warned that escalating tensions with Iran are being used to deflect attention and stall accountability. For many Palestinians, the review may mark a turning point, but only if Europe's actions finally match its words.
