Rights groups slam EU for ignoring Israeli violations, holding Partnership Council meeting

• All possible alarms are sounding, yet the EU turns a blind eye, acting as if nothing is happening in Israel,' says vice president of International Federation for Human Rights
• 'EU behaves as if Palestinians are dying from a natural disaster,' says associate director at Human Rights Watch

BRUSSELS

Human rights organizations have criticized the EU ahead of its upcoming Partnership Council meeting with Israel, urging the bloc to suspend talks with Tel Aviv and impose sanctions on Israeli officials.

At a press conference, Alexis Deswaef, vice president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, emphasized the need to hold the EU accountable for its response to Israel’s actions.

"All possible alarms are sounding, yet the EU turns a blind eye, acting as if nothing is happening in Israel. Every honest lawyer in the world will confirm that this is an ongoing genocide," Deswaef said.

He condemned Israel’s continued expansion in the West Bank, attributing it to military complicity and the Trump administration’s support for annexation efforts. He also warned that the EU’s ongoing engagement with Israeli authorities undermines its credibility.

Deswaef pointed to Article 2 of the EU-Israel Partnership Agreement, which requires adherence to human rights and international law, urging the EU to enforce these principles and reconsider its partnership with Israel.

Bertrand Heilbronn, the president of the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP), said that while the Partnership Council was originally created under the Oslo Accords to promote peace, it has instead enabled violations of international law.

He stressed that, given what he called US indifference under the Donald Trump administration, the EU must take responsibility for ensuring compliance with international law.

‘Where is EU’s commitment to international law?’

Claudio Francavilla, associate director at Human Rights Watch’s EU office, criticized the EU’s response to the situation.

"The EU behaves as if Palestinians are dying from a natural disaster," he said.

"The 27 EU member states are divided on many issues, but they all agree that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace. So why do they continue to trade with Israel's illegal settlements? Where is the EU's commitment to international law?" he said, dismissing the EU's two-state solution stance as mere rhetoric.

"Hopefully, this meeting will serve as a wake-up call for the EU. They must suspend the agreement, sanction Israeli officials, support the International Criminal Court, halt trade with illegal settlements, and stop arms sales to Israel," he added.

EU-Israel Partnership Council meeting

Ireland and Spain have called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Partnership Agreement, citing violations of Article 2, which mandates respect for human rights and international law.

The issue had previously been debated under former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, with some measures taken in response.

Kaja Kallas, who took office as EU high representative on Dec. 1, 2024, stated that the upcoming meeting will allow member states to voice their concerns directly to Israeli officials.

While some countries are expected to raise objections over human rights violations, others may push for a shift in EU-Israel relations following tensions under Borrell’s tenure.

The EU has previously suspended agreements due to human rights violations and breaches of international law, as it did with Syria in 2011.