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

Angela Rayner, Potential UK Leadership Contender, Cleared in Tax Probe

Angela Rayner, Potential UK Leadership Contender, Cleared in Tax Probe

Angela Rayner has been cleared in a tax investigation, removing a potential obstacle to her future Labour Party leadership bid.
The former deputy prime minister stated to the Guardian and ITV News that HMRC concluded she neither attempted to avoid taxes nor was careless in handling her affairs, following an investigation into unpaid property tax initiated last fall.
This development occurs at a cr

Read More

"Digital-Led Healthcare Revolution: A New Era of Comprehensive Care in Taiwan"

"Digital-Led Healthcare Revolution: A New Era of Comprehensive Care in Taiwan"

As the world confronts the challenges of population aging and healthcare workforce shortages, digital transformation in healthcare is no longer optional but essential. Taiwan has introduced the “Healthy Taiwan” vision, placing “driving digital healthcare” at its core. By integrating big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies, the system aims to improve healthcare quality and

Read More

Understanding Freedom of Religion

Understanding Freedom of Religion

A government can violate a fundamental right without outright banning a religion. It can exert pressure on minority faiths through zoning laws, deny registration, unjustly remove children from their parents, criminalize peaceful worship, or stigmatize believers until public life becomes hostile. This makes the question of what constitutes freedom of religion central to democratic accountability,

Read More

Montenegro Nears the Final Stages of EU Membership

Montenegro Nears the Final Stages of EU Membership

Podgorica has completed 14 of the 33 chapters required for provisional closure before joining the bloc. The rule of law remains the most challenging obstacle, with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos encouraging Montenegro to continue reforms.
With a population of around 600,000, Montenegro became an EU candidate in 2010, four years after its separation from Serbia, and began accession talks in 201

Read More

EU Faces Intensifying Pressure Over Proposed Tobacco Legislation Reform

EU Faces Intensifying Pressure Over Proposed Tobacco Legislation Reform

A coalition of over 25 world-renowned scientists and public health researchers have said that a proposed revision of tobacco legislation is based on a “scientifically false premise.”
This comes in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The signatories include internationally-respected experts like Professor Luboš Petruželka, a distinguished oncologist at Charles Universit

Read More

Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom from Religion

Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom from Religion

A school assembly, a nurse’s chain with a small cross, a council prayer before a vote, a parent objecting to compulsory religious instruction – these are instances where freedom of religion versus freedom from religion transcends abstract legal debates and becomes an issue of power, equality, and state limits. Across Europe and beyond, these disputes are no longer niche but central to discussions

Read More

Allies Deny Brigitte Slapped Macron Over Texts With Iranian Actress

Allies Deny Brigitte Slapped Macron Over Texts With Iranian Actress

On RTL radio on Wednesday, Tardif claimed President Macron had a “platonic relationship” with Farahani for several months, with some exchanges going “quite far,” as per people close to Macron. Tardif mentioned a message to Farahani saying, “I find you very attractive.”
The Elysée initially called the slap reports fake news and later as “horseplay,” with no official response. A source close to the

Read More

China and US Joint Drug Probe Results in 5 Arrests in Major Smuggling Crackdown Beijing 2026

China and US Joint Drug Probe Results in 5 Arrests in Major Smuggling Crackdown Beijing 2026

BEIJING, China — May 11, 2026 — Eurotoday Newspaper highlights how China US cooperation moved into international focus after authorities from both countries reportedly coordinated during a large anti-drug investigation targeting an international narcotics smuggling network.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, law enforcement agencies exchanged intelligence, tracked financial ac

Read More

EU Declares Ban on LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy Should Be Determined by Individual Countries, Not Brussels

EU Declares Ban on LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy Should Be Determined by Individual Countries, Not Brussels

The Commission acknowledges that practices such as verbal abuse, coercion, isolation, forced medication, electric shocks, and physical and sexual abuse offer “no therapeutic value.” However, on Wednesday, the Commission announced plans to adopt a 2027 recommendation urging countries to ban conversion practices—a move campaign organizers consider a “missed opportunity.”
Thro

Read More

Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms Reportedly Excludes Investor Exits from 2026 Mumbai IPO Plan

Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms Reportedly Excludes Investor Exits from 2026 Mumbai IPO Plan

MUMBAI, India – May 11, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — highlights how Ambani business expansion continues gaining international attention as Reliance Industries strengthens its investments across retail, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and infrastructure sectors.
Led by Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries has transformed from a traditional energy company into one of As

Read More