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

Iran: Fragmented Power Structure and Rising Tensions in State Leadership

Iran: Fragmented Power Structure and Rising Tensions in State Leadership

Au centre du système iranien, il y a une fracture identifiée depuis longtemps par les observateurs, mais que les autorités s’efforcent de maîtriser : la tension croissante entre les institutions politiques civiles et le puissant Corps des gardiens de la révolution islamique.
Cette tension n’est ni nouvelle ni accidentelle. Elle est ancrée dans la structure même du régime. Cependant,

Read More

Hungarian Election Reaches Boiling Point in Final Stages

Hungarian Election Reaches Boiling Point in Final Stages

“Independent and critical outlets operate alongside a much larger pro-government media sector,” stated the report.
Kovács dismissed the OSCE’s concerns, labeling its warnings about government media influence as a “political opinion” and questioning the credibility of its findings.
As the campaign heats up and polls indicate that the opposition Tisza Party might win, a

Read More

UN Relief Chief Condemns Middle East War’s ‘$1 Billion-a-Day’ Cost

UN Relief Chief Condemns Middle East War’s ‘$1 Billion-a-Day’ Cost

The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, warned of the rapid spread of violence causing mass displacement and economic shocks, stating, “We’re seeing the consequences spread faster than we can respond”.
In Geneva, the UN’s top humanitarian aid official called this a moment of grave peril and stated that without more support, “millions of people will die”.
$14 Billion Needed
The $23 billion

Read More

Pourquoi les partis de centre-gauche en Europe enchaînent les revers électoraux

Pourquoi les partis de centre-gauche en Europe enchaînent les revers électoraux

Le commissaire européen responsable du dossier, Dan Jørgensen, prévient les États membres : ils doivent aborder sérieusement la question de l’accès au logement, sous peine de voir le pouvoir passer aux mains des populistes d’extrême droite.

Read More

Middle East Conflict: Lebanese Women Delivering Babies on Roadsides

Middle East Conflict: Lebanese Women Delivering Babies on Roadsides

“There are 11,600 pregnant women affected, with 4,000 expected to give birth in the next three months,” stated Anandita Philipose, Lebanon Representative for the UN Population Fund, UNFPA. “Many of these women have been displaced, with limited access to essential health services, and some have given birth under dangerous conditions, sometimes even by the roadside.”
The situation in Lebanon has wo

Read More

Zelenskyy Proposes Ukraine’s Assistance to Open Hormuz

Zelenskyy Proposes Ukraine’s Assistance to Open Hormuz

Despite ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes on the three Ukrainian ports in the Odesa region, approximately 200 cargo ships visit each month, according to Andrii Klymenko, head of the monitoring group at the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies.
Ukraine has developed a complex protective system for cargo ships on the sea route from Romania to Odesa. Klymenko calls this system a “t

Read More

What Is Your Value?

What Is Your Value?

How much money? This question is commonly asked in various situations, whether at the supermarket, restaurant, or when considering tuition fees or salaries. Money plays a central role in the economy, acting as a measure of value. For example, a meal’s value is shown by its price, a program’s value by its tuition fee, and one’s work value by their salary. However, the value of la

Read More

Russia Expels British Diplomat Amid Espionage Allegations

Russia Expels British Diplomat Amid Espionage Allegations

Moscow warned of further actions against embassy staff if London retaliates against the expulsion by targeting its diplomats in the U.K.

Read More

Robots Learn from Factory Workers as School Resumes

Robots Learn from Factory Workers as School Resumes

Czech startup RoboTwin is revolutionizing the way robots learn tasks on factory floors by allowing workers to teach them through demonstration. With its headquarters in Prague, RoboTwin creates handheld devices and no-code software that capture human movements to program industrial robots. This innovation, spearheaded by co-founder and CTO Megi Mejdrechová, aims to make automation more accessible

Read More

Starmer Leads on Iran Contingency Plans

Starmer Leads on Iran Contingency Plans

The Iran war entering its fifth week raises questions about the need for Whitehall to enhance contingency planning due to potential impacts at home. Although MPs are on recess, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to host a roundtable with industry stakeholders to discuss the ongoing conflict, particularly with the Strait of Hormuz’s closure and talks of a possible US invasion.
In other de

Read More