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

Budapest Pride: Viktor Orban Calls It “a Shame”

Budapest Pride: Viktor Orban Calls It “a Shame”

Budapest – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban labeled the Pride march that took place in Budapest on Saturday as a “shame” in his first public reaction, as reported in excerpts from a televised interview scheduled for broadcast on Monday evening.
“I do not regard what occurred as a source of pride. (…) I consider it a shame,” Mr. Orban expressed.
The event, which featured a large, festive crow

Read More

Sint-Katelijne-Waver to Open New Public Swimming Pool by 2030

Sint-Katelijne-Waver to Open New Public Swimming Pool by 2030

Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Brussel Morning Newspaper) – Sint-Katelijne-Waver has announced plans to build a modern public swimming pool by 2030, aiming to expand swimming access for residents of all ages.
The two swimming pools that are currently in use are too old to be updated. A Flemish subsidy of 4.5 million will be given to the new complex. It must address the increasing need for swimming skills

Read More

EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Denounces Inhumane Treatment of Azeris in Russia

EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Denounces Inhumane Treatment of Azeris in Russia

Azerbaijan reportedly canceled all cultural events associated with Russia due to “demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azeris,” according to the country’s Culture Ministry.
In the Sverdlovsk region, whose capital is Yekaterinburg, the Russian Investigative Committee acknowledged that two suspects di

Read More

European Governments Consider Social Media Ban for Minors, Potentially Targeting TikTok

European Governments Consider Social Media Ban for Minors, Potentially Targeting TikTok

by enr | Jun 30, 2025 | Videos

Several European Union nations are advocating for a ban on social media for individuals under 16. But is such a ban feasible, and is it the appropriate course of action?

[embedded content]

Will platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube become unavailable to millions of teens in Europe? That’s the aim of a proposal supporte

Read More

Parents Camp for School Spots at SIL Kontich in 2025

Parents Camp for School Spots at SIL Kontich in 2025

Kontich (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In June 2025, parents camped outside Sint-Jozefinstituut in Kontich for upper-grade spots. Director Doucha Volckaert says the law blocks digital registration beyond 1st year, causing stress and unfair access.
As VRT News reported, parents in Kontich camped outside the Sint-Jozefinstituut, Belgium, for over a day. They wanted to get their kids into the upper

Read More

France, Germany, UK Urge Iran to Maintain Cooperation with IAEA

France, Germany, UK Urge Iran to Maintain Cooperation with IAEA

France, Germany, and the U.K. urge Iran to reconsider its stance, maintain cooperation with the IAEA, and safeguard the agency’s staff. They denounce threats against IAEA’s Grossi, following claims by Iran’s Kayhan newspaper alleging Grossi as an Israeli spy and calling for his execution, though Iran’s UN ambassador insists Tehran poses no threat. After Israeli attacks on I

Read More

EU-funded initiative for social reutilization of land seized from organized crime in Albania

EU-funded initiative for social reutilization of land seized from organized crime in Albania

The Final Conference of the “Our Land” project took place in Tirana, showcasing an innovative approach to the social repurposing of lands confiscated from organized crime in Albania.
Executed by COSV in collaboration with ANRD and CGM, and in close partnership with the Agency for the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), this project has been funded by the European Commission since

Read More

Russia Claims NATO’s Defense Increase Could Lead to Its Collapse

Russia Claims NATO’s Defense Increase Could Lead to Its Collapse

Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that NATO members’ decision to boost defence spending would be disastrous for the alliance and could ultimately lead to its demise, state news agency TASS reported on Monday.
In response to NATO allies arranged raise to their collective spending objective to 5% of gross domestic product over the next decade, On M

Read More

Canada Withdraws Digital Tax to Revive US Trade Talks

Canada Withdraws Digital Tax to Revive US Trade Talks

Following the dissolving of his government over tax issues, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Trump administration agreed to restart trade discussions, targeting a deal by July 21, as reported by Canada’s Department of Finance.
Trump has consistently criticized “non-tariff barriers” by other nations, especially those affecting the tech sector.
Britain’s digital services tax has attracted

Read More

Member of the European Parliament Zdechovský: We identified no discrepancies in EU funds in just three districts of Slovakia

Member of the European Parliament Zdechovský: We identified no discrepancies in EU funds in just three districts of Slovakia

Bratislava – The European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) have been informed of 330 potential abuses of EU funds in Slovakia. Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský announced this on social media on Thursday following his recent oversight mission with the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control in Slovakia, according to TASR.

Read More