EU faces growing pressure to review agreement with Israel as Gaza aid blockade tightens

Ireland has increased pressure on the EU to review the human rights clause of its association agreement with Israel following a famine alert in Gaza. An initial request filed by Ireland and Spain in February 2024 was ignored by the EU Commission – the EU’s executive arm. But a recent call for a review filed by the Netherlands triggered by Israel’s blockade of aid into Gaza has gained momentum. The Dutch initiative has been supported by Finland, Portugal, Sweden and France. “The EU-Israel Association Agreement has clauses on human rights. It says relations shall be based on respect for human rights. These words must have meaning,” Simon Harris, Ireland’s Foreign Minister, wrote on X.