EU’s Josep Borrell Urges Increased Pressure on Israel and Hamas

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The EU’s Josep Borrell emphasised the need to “put pressure on the Israeli administration” and Hamas to attain peace in the region.

How does Josep Borrell plan to address human rights concerns?What is the significance of the EU-Israel Association Agreement?

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on 18 Nov 2024 recalled that measures were made to “stop the war in Gaza,” including by the US, by “putting pressure to free the hostages and to stop the war. This has not occurred yet, and I do not see hope for this to happen. That is why we have to put stress on the Israeli government, also, obviously, on the Hamas side. Both sides have to be put under pressure,” Borrell told journalists before attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council summit in Brussels.

How does Josep Borrell plan to address human rights concerns?

Borrell stated he would offer “a proposal in order to study which are the decisions that could be taken for the compliance with the Association Council (with Israel) from the point of view of human rights, and also which measures can be taken in order to be sure that we satisfy all commitments in order not to trade with the products produced on occupied territories according with the rules of the International Court of Justice.”

What is the significance of the EU-Israel Association Agreement?

Earlier this year, Borrell formally asked the Israeli foreign minister to an ad hoc EU-Israel Association Council session to examine Israel’s compliance with its human rights commitments under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, delivers a legal and institutional framework for political dialogue and economic collaboration between the EU and Israel. Article 2 of the agreement states it is based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, described as an “essential element” of the pact.

A few days ago, Josep Borrell also urged to formally discontinue political dialogue with Israel over its unconcern for international law in the Gaza Strip, which requires approval from all 27 EU countries.


Comments

2 responses to “EU’s Josep Borrell Urges Increased Pressure on Israel and Hamas”

  1. Spoiler Betty Avatar
    Spoiler Betty

    Ah, the EU’s Josep Borrell, the master of diplomatic nudges, is here to sprinkle some fairy dust of pressure on Israel and Hamas. One must admire his confidence—because nothing says “let’s solve a decades-old conflict” quite like a sternly worded letter from Brussels. If only he could bottle that pressure and sell it as a fine Chianti, we’d all be toasting to peace in no time!

  2. NightDream Avatar

    Ah, Josep Borrell, the EU’s very own peacemaker, has decided to sprinkle some extra pressure on Israel and Hamas—because clearly, turning up the heat always works wonders in a decades-long conflict. It’s like trying to cook pasta by just yelling at it, isn’t it? With diplomacy at its finest, one can only wonder if the next EU summit will be a culinary lesson in how to boil the ocean.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Trump Considers Further Cabinet Changes Following Bondi’s Departure

Trump Considers Further Cabinet Changes Following Bondi’s Departure

No final decisions have been made regarding Chavez-DeRemer and Lutnick, and Trump has previously considered firing individuals before retracting.
If Trump proceeds with more Cabinet changes, it may signal a significant reset attempt for an administration facing a challenging political environment.
The potential reshuffling focuses on Cabinet members who Trump believes have “underperformed or

Read More

Hungary’s Maverick Two-Tailed Dog Party Challenges Orbán with Satire

Hungary’s Maverick Two-Tailed Dog Party Challenges Orbán with Satire

I’m sorry, but there is no article content provided to rewrite.

Read More

10 Fascinating Facts About Ladybugs

10 Fascinating Facts About Ladybugs

There are approximately 5,000 species of ladybugs worldwide, with variations primarily in colors and spots, including 2-spotted, 10-spotted, 14-spotted, and even 24-spotted. The most well-known are shiny red with seven black spots.
The number, shape, and arrangement of their spots are determined by the species and formed as the insect emerges from its pupa. Some are yellow with black spots, while

Read More

Schinas to Succeed Dismissed Greek Farm Minister

Schinas to Succeed Dismissed Greek Farm Minister

A Cypriot official mentioned that flights to Cyprus and other regional countries faced challenges or cancellations due to developments in the area, necessitating flexibility.

Read More

Election Process for the New Georgian Patriarch

Election Process for the New Georgian Patriarch

According to the statute of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia, the Vicar of the Patriarchal Throne convenes an expanded Council to elect a new Catholicos-Patriarch 40 days to 2 months after the Patriarch’s death. Prior to this, the Vicar gathers the Holy Synod to nominate candidates. The Synod, comprising 39 members, selects three candidates for the Council. Each member can nomin

Read More

Scientists Reveal Link Between High IQ and Late Bedtime

Scientists Reveal Link Between High IQ and Late Bedtime

People who spend too much time in bed are at higher risk of mortality.
If you regularly fall asleep after midnight, it may not be just a bad habit. According to scientists from the University of Southampton, going to bed late may be associated with a higher level of intelligence.
A study involving more than 1,200 people shows that people with an IQ of over 125 are more likely to go to bed after m

Read More

MEP Rima Hassan Responds to Police Detention: ‘The Only Goal is to Harm Me’

MEP Rima Hassan Responds to Police Detention: ‘The Only Goal is to Harm Me’

She was again questioned by the police on Friday morning as part of an investigation into a social media post she wrote last week expressing solidarity with Japanese terrorist Kōzō Okamoto, who was convicted of a terrorist attack that killed 26 people at Ben Gurion International Airport in 1972.
In her post on Friday, Hassan, an MEP with the hard-left France Unbowed party, said she had two types o

Read More

Europe’s 10 Catholic Processions on Good Friday

Europe’s 10 Catholic Processions on Good Friday

Good Friday, 3 April 2026, is a solemn day in the Catholic calendar, celebrated across Europe both in churches and streets. From the papal Via Crucis in Rome to Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Malta’s candlelit processions, these events blend faith, history, art, and local identity. While any “top 10” is editorial, here are some notable Catholic processions in Europe this Good Frida

Read More

Kallas Dismisses von der Leyen Tensions: "Who Doesn’t Enjoy a Good Catfight Story?"

Kallas Dismisses von der Leyen Tensions: "Who Doesn’t Enjoy a Good Catfight Story?"

Kallas, previously the Estonian prime minister who assumed the High Representative role in December 2024, operates within multiple EU power hubs—acting as a Commission vice president under von der Leyen while also leading EU foreign ministers’ meetings and collaborating closely with member countries.
This dual role has often led to overlapping responsibilities—and sometimes territorial dispu

Read More

Singular and Plural References to the Holy Trinity in Scripture

Singular and Plural References to the Holy Trinity in Scripture

By Nikolaos Sotiropoulo
In the Old Testament, there are indications of God’s trinity.
Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and most Protestants believe that God consists of three Persons: the Father, who is unbegotten, the Son, who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father. An analogy is the sun, consisting of the disk, the light, and the heat. Similarly, God is one i

Read More