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

Norah Returns to Belgium with First Store in Hasselt and 20-Store Flemish Plan

Norah Returns to Belgium with First Store in Hasselt and 20-Store Flemish Plan

Dutch fashion brand Norah returns to Belgium and opens first store in Hasselt, marking the start of a planned 20–25‑store Flemish network after a strategic 2026 withdrawal. The retailer will open its new shop at Koning Albertstraat 60 in April 2027, with the Belgian head office located above the store, signaling a long‑term commitment rather than a one‑off expansion.
What exactly is Norah planni

Read More

Shlosberg Imprisoned as Yabloko Excluded from Election

Shlosberg Imprisoned as Yabloko Excluded from Election

A Russian court has sentenced opposition figure Lev Shlosberg to over 11 years in prison, while the Supreme Court confirmed the exclusion of his Yabloko party from upcoming parliamentary elections. These decisions diminish the space for peaceful opposition to the Ukraine war and eliminate the only registered party advocating for a ceasefire.
Shlosberg, 63, received an 11-year and one-month penal

Read More

Netherlands Criticizes US Sanctions on Leading ICC Officials

Netherlands Criticizes US Sanctions on Leading ICC Officials

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the court of threatening American sovereignty, stating that the administration was acting to protect its citizens from a “sham” institution and would never permit Americans to be “transported beyond seas to be tried for pretend offenses.”
Tuesday’s sanctions are part of a campaign launched by Washington last month to undermi

Read More

Meta Youth Safety Trial Subjects Facebook and Instagram to Major Legal Scrutiny in California

Meta Youth Safety Trial Subjects Facebook and Instagram to Major Legal Scrutiny in California

Oakland, California, 18 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) Meta is facing one of the most consequential legal challenges yet to Facebook and Instagram after US states opened a federal case alleging the company built features that kept children hooked on its platforms while playing down risks to younger users. The Meta youth safety trial began with opening statements in Oakland on Tuesday.
The case bri

Read More

Social Contagion: The Spread of Behaviors

Social Contagion: The Spread of Behaviors

Scientific findings suggest that behaviors like obesity, suicide, violence, self-harm, and collective actions can be influenced by those around us. However, “social contagion” doesn’t imply a simple transmission from one person to another. Behaviors may spread like diseases, where one individual starts and others follow. This can occur in various settings, amplified by social me

Read More

Snakes on a Campaign Trail: When Animals Attack Politicians

Snakes on a Campaign Trail: When Animals Attack Politicians

Sandro Garibaldi, a regional council member in Liguria for the League, was bitten on the hand by a wolf earlier this year. Garibaldi had interrupted the wolf while it was attacking some sheep. It is unclear if this wolf was the same one that killed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s pet pony, Dolly.
A flock of Lories, arboreal parrots, made friends with German Chancellor Angela M

Read More

Why 29 U.S. States United Against Meta Over Youth Social Media Harms, Oakland

Why 29 U.S. States United Against Meta Over Youth Social Media Harms, Oakland

Oakland, California, 18 August (Brussles Morning Newspaper) Twenty-nine US states have taken Meta to court in one of the biggest legal tests yet of how social media companies treat children, after years of trying to keep their case together. The Meta youth safety trial centres on allegations that the Facebook and Instagram owner misled families about risks to young users and unlawfully collected

Read More

UAE–Iran: Abu Dhabi Takes a Firm Stand

UAE–Iran: Abu Dhabi Takes a Firm Stand

The United Arab Emirates has adopted a tougher stance towards Iran after detecting two ballistic missiles launched from Iranian territory. Abu Dhabi has announced a suspension of all trade exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. This decision highlights the UAE’s commitment to protect its sovereignty while leveraging its regional and international influence.
An

Read More

Former Ukrainian Defense Chief Fedorov Demands Elections, Challenging Zelenskyy

Former Ukrainian Defense Chief Fedorov Demands Elections, Challenging Zelenskyy

Mykhailo Fedorov has advocated for elections in Ukraine despite Russia’s ongoing invasion, following his dismissal as defense minister, which led to nationwide protests against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The president has faced growing domestic pressure after the contentious government reshuffle last month where he removed Fedorov, a well-regarded minister praised for battlefield innovat

Read More

Milky Way Consumed Smaller Galaxy 11.8 Billion Years Ago, Space

Milky Way Consumed Smaller Galaxy 11.8 Billion Years Ago, Space

Global, 18 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) The Milky Way swallowed a smaller galaxy around 11.8 billion years ago, leaving behind ancient star clusters that astronomers have now used to reconstruct one of the earliest major events in our galaxy’s history. Evidence of the Milky Way galaxy collision points to a merger when the universe was only about 1.5 billion years old, offering a rare glimpse of

Read More