EU's Borrell calls for suspension of dialogue with Israel over Gaza's civilian toll

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has proposed suspending the EU's political dialogue with Israel, citing serious concerns over potential human rights violations during the ongoing war in Gaza.

The proposal, revealed through a letter seen by Reuters, was sent to EU foreign ministers ahead of their meeting on November 11, per Caliber.Az.

Borrell highlighted what he described as “serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza,” noting that Israel has not sufficiently addressed these concerns.

In his letter, Borrell referenced the broader political agreement between the EU and Israel, which has been in place since 2000, establishing key relations, including significant trade ties. He suggested that, in light of these concerns, the EU should invoke a human rights clause to suspend the political dialogue with Israel. However, this move would require the unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states, and diplomats say this approval is unlikely. When the proposal was briefed to ambassadors in Brussels, multiple countries voiced objections, according to anonymous sources.

Borrell's proposal is seen as an attempt to send a strong message of concern regarding Israel's actions in Gaza. This issue will be discussed during the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting, which will be Borrell's final one before the end of his five-year tenure.

The United Nations Human Rights Office recently reported that nearly 70% of the verified fatalities in the conflict were women and children, condemning what it called a systematic violation of international humanitarian law. Israel, however, has firmly rejected these claims, defending its actions as aligned with international law principles of distinction and proportionality.

The EU has struggled to present a unified stance on the Gaza war, which began following the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants on Israel. While the EU has condemned Hamas and called for the release of all Israeli hostages, it has also called for both sides to adhere to international law.

By Tamilla Hasanova