French President Emmanuel Macron said the suspension of EU-Israel cooperation remains an open question as the crisis in Gaza deepens. Speaking in an interview with TF1, Macron described the situation in Gaza as shameful and called for increased pressure on Israel. His remarks followed a proposal from the Netherlands to reassess relations between the European Union and Israel. The Dutch government criticized Israel’s blockade on Gaza, which has lasted more than ten weeks, as a violation of international humanitarian law and the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp sent the proposal to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, urging the EU to reconsider its partnership with Israel based on human rights concerns. Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement demands respect for human rights as a foundation for cooperation, which the Dutch argue is currently being breached due to the ongoing blockade.
Several other EU member states, including France, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, and Finland, have now joined the Netherlands in supporting the reassessment. This marks a shift in EU sentiment compared to fifteen months ago when only Ireland and Spain suggested reviewing the agreement but did not gain widespread backing. While eight countries now support the initiative, any formal action requires unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states. Israel remains the EU’s largest trade partner, making the issue politically and economically sensitive.
Non-governmental organizations have urged the European Commission to investigate Israel’s compliance with the agreement and to propose measures to the European Council. The ongoing Israeli military blockade restricts essential supplies such as medicine and food from reaching Gaza, citing pressure on Hamas. Recently, Israel announced plans to transfer aid distribution responsibilities to private firms, excluding the United Nations. The UN criticized this approach, saying it risks politicizing humanitarian aid.
Germany supports the alternative aid delivery system backed by Israel and the United States. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that aid would continue in accordance with humanitarian principles. EU foreign ministers plan to discuss the Dutch proposal and possible responses on May 20. Kaja Kallas confirmed that ministers would explore additional options to address the crisis. The European Commission emphasized that suspending cooperation with Israel requires unanimous consent from all member states.
