Ireland and Spain seek economic penalties if Israel breaching obligations
The premiers called for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel trade agreement.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Irish premier Leo Varadkar and his Spanish counterpart have written to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
In a joint letter, Mr Varadkar and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel trade agreement.
They describe the expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area as posing a “grave and imminent threat” that the international community must “urgently confront”.
They have asked the Commission to propose measures to be taken by the EU if it considers that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the EU-Israel trade agreement.
In the letter, published on Wednesday morning, the two leaders have asked for an “urgent review” of whether Israel is complying with its obligations.
They said: “Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe posed by the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, and given what has occurred, and continues to occur in Gaza since October 2023, including widespread concern about possible breaches of IHL and international human rights law by Israel, we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship; and if it considers that it is in breach, that it proposes appropriate measures to the Council to consider.”
They also said that an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed to prevent “irreversible harm” to the people in Gaza.
Mr Varadkar and Mr Sanchez also referred to the ruling of the International Court of Justice which requires Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
They also said that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) must be allowed to continue its work in saving lives and “addressing the catastrophic humanitarian” situation in Gaza.
The pair said the EU must continue to support UNWRA as “there is no pathway to achieving the urgent massive and sustained scale-up in humanitarian assistance without UNWRA playing a central role”.
The letter comes a day after Mr Varadkar said Israel has become “blinded by rage” and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States any more.
The Taoiseach was answering questions in the Irish parliament about the number of Palestinians who have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation.