European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed that the bloc suspend political dialogue with Israel, citing possible human rights violations during the war with Hamas in Gaza. This was reported by four diplomats in a letter seen by Reuters.
In a letter sent to EU foreign ministers ahead of their meeting next Monday, Borrell refers to “serious concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza” and says that “so far these concerns have not been sufficiently taken into account by Israel”.
“In light of the above considerations, I will present a proposal for the EU to use the human rights clause to suspend political dialogue with Israel,” Borrell wrote.
The suspension would have to be approved by all 27 EU countries, which diplomats say is highly unlikely. When a senior EU official briefed ambassadors in Brussels about the proposal on Wednesday, several countries objected, according to three diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Borrell’s proposal is intended to send a strong signal of concern about Israel’s behavior in the war, a diplomat said.
It will be discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers, the last he will chair before the end of his five-year term.
Previously, Cursor wrote that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia made a new accusation against Israel.
