EU admits Israel has committed “war crimes” in Gaza.

This is further proof that EU leaders have been supporting and partnering with Israel with full knowledge of its genocidal crimes against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza. They are genocide enablers and must be investigated for complicity in Israel's war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Last April, pressured by grassroots movements and civil society, The Netherlands formally requested a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement for “potential breaches”’ of Article 2 which states: “Relations between the parties [EU and Israel], as well as all the provisions of the agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.” 

17 of the bloc's 27 foreign ministers backed the move, while the usual suspects, Germany, Italy, Czechia, Hungary and Cyprus, voted against it.

On 23 June, during the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is expected to present the outcome of this review and a set of recommendations on the actions to be taken - if the review is conclusive. 

Exposing EU racism and utter hypocrisy, days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed sweeping and debilitating sanctions against Russia and its companies, universities, cultural centers, etc.

In comparison, despite knowing through their internal audit and reports by the UN and international human rights organizations that Israel is perpetrating a genocide in Gaza, the EU and its member States, for over 20 months now, have continued to arm, finance, and shield from accountability apartheid Israel’s genocide in Gaza. They have willingly partnered in the US-Israeli extermination of Palestinians and  in undermining the very foundations of international law and human rights. 

The EU is Israel’s top trading partner, with the trading relationship valued at more than €45 billion each year. Through the EU-Israel Association Agreement, Israel has enjoyed preferential access to the EU market and resources, including the Horizon programme funding, where Israeli universities have received a higher percentage of the overall budget than even German, British or French universities!

According to the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, third parties, including states, have a legal obligation “to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Dozens of UN human rights experts have stated that in order for all States to meet their obligations triggered by the ICJ rulings, they must “Cancel or suspend economic relationships, trade agreements and academic relations with Israel that may contribute to its unlawful presence and apartheid regime in the occupied Palestinian territory.” Furthermore, they must “Impose a full arms embargo on Israel, halting all arms agreements, imports, exports and transfers, including of dual-use items.”

The Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest Palestinian civil society coalition and leadership of the global BDS movement, calls on people of conscience and civil society, especially trade unions, to pressure the institutions of the EU and all its Member States to respect their obligations under international law by imposing the required accountability measures against apartheid Israel.

Ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, we call for the cancellation of the EU-Israel Association agreement. There should be no business as usual with Israel’s 77-year-old regime of colonial oppression against the Indigenous Palestinian people.