Germany and Italy block bid to suspend EU-Israel trade deal | Gaza News

Germany and Italy have blocked an attempt to suspend a European Union trade deal with Israel.

Spain, Slovenia and Ireland urged a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday to debate the suspension of the association agreement because of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and violence in the occupied West Bank. Opponents, however, said the idea had been definitively dismissed.

Supporters of the movement have insisted that the bloc can no longer remain “on the sidelines” as violence continues and conditions deteriorate in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, all of which have suffered from Israeli wars.

However, the attempt always seemed unlikely because the EU is clearly divided over its approach to Israel.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the proposal “inappropriate” and insisted more talks were needed despite daily reports of violence by Israeli forces.

“We need to talk to Israel about the critical issues,” Wadephul said at the start of the meeting. “This must be done in a critical, constructive dialogue with Israel.”

His Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani joined him in the backlash, saying: “No decision will be made today.” After the meeting, he told reporters that the bid had been rejected.

“Other possible initiatives will be discussed at the next ministerial meeting on May 11, and we will evaluate them,” he said, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

defeat

Before the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he expected “every European country to uphold what the International Court of Justice and the UN say about human rights and the defense of international law.”

“Anything else would be a defeat for the European Union,” he added.

In a joint letter sent to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas last week, the governments of Spain, Slovenia and Ireland said Israel had taken a series of measures that “violate human rights and violate international law and international humanitarian law”, adding that they violated the 1995 agreement outlining political, economic and trade relations between the EU and Israel.

They said repeated calls for Israel to reverse course were ignored. The ministers pointed to a recently passed Israeli law that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted in military courts of killing Israelis, describing it as “a serious violation of fundamental human rights” and a further step in the “systematic persecution, repression, violence and discrimination” faced by Palestinians.

They also cited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying conditions there were “intolerable” with continued violations of a “ceasefire” in October and insufficient aid entering the area.

The letter warned that violence in the West Bank is also increasing with settlers acting “with absolute impunity” and Israeli military operations causing civilian deaths.

“The European Union can no longer remain on the sidelines,” the ministers wrote, calling for “bold and immediate action” and saying all options must remain on the table.

The three countries argued Israel had violated Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which binds relations with respect for human rights. An EU review had already found Israel failing to meet these obligations, they said, adding that the situation had further deteriorated since then.

Speaking at a donor conference in Brussels, Kallas said the estimated cost of rebuilding Gaza had risen to $71 billion.

Ireland and Spain only pushed for a review of the agreement in 2024, but the effort failed to gain support from Israel’s supportive member states. A later initiative led by the Netherlands succeeded in triggering the EU evaluation, which concluded that Israel had “probably” breached its obligations under the treaty.

Possible trade measures, including suspending parts of the relationship, were later discussed but not implemented after Israel promised to significantly increase humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Bill on Occupied Territories

Ireland is also trying to revive its life Bill on Occupied Territorieswhich was first introduced in 2018. It would ban trade in goods and services from settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, which is illegal under international law. Progress has stalled despite unanimous support in the lower house of parliament, the Dail.

Meanwhile, Spain and Slovenia have moved to limit trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank following sustained public protests and growing political pressure. In August, Slovenia banned the import of goods produced in Israeli-occupied territories, becoming one of the first European states to take such a step.

Spain followed later that year with a decree banning imports from Israeli settlements. The measure came into effect at the beginning of 2026.

All three countries formally recognized the state of Palestine in May 2024 in what was widely seen as a coordinated diplomatic move aimed at increasing pressure for a two-state solution.