Spain, Ireland seek EU inspections of Israel’s human rights record in Gaza

Spain and Ireland asked the European Union on Wednesday to “urgently” review whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza under a deal linking rights to trade relations.

Prime Ministers Pedro Sánchez and Leo Varadkar of Spain and Ireland wrote to the European Commission urging it to “take urgent action on the crisis in Gaza”.

“Given the critical situation in Rafah, Ireland and Spain have just asked the European Commission to urgently review whether Israel fulfills its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza,” Sanchez wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

More than 1.4 million Palestinians are trapped in the southern city of Rafah as Israeli forces prepare to launch a full-scale ground operation, sparking international alarm over the potential for mass casualties.

Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers have been at war for four months.

The two leaders requested “an urgent review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations, including those under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles fundamental elements of the relationship between the two countries,” the letter said.

The Association Agreement is the main basis for EU-Israel trade relations. Signed in 1995 and came into effect in 2000.

– “Appropriate measures” –

“If the committee considers that (Israel) has violated the rules,” the committee should “propose appropriate measures to the Security Council for consideration,” the letter said.

The European Commission confirmed it had received the letter and would “investigate it,” spokesperson Arianna Podesta told reporters.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nabila Massrali could not immediately say how the committee would review the human rights content of the deal, but said “any violations of international law must be held accountable”.

She said the EU had always stressed the importance of protecting civilians and expressed regret for the loss of life and had conveyed such information “in its contacts with the Israeli authorities.”

The letter cited the “serious and imminent threat” posed by Israel’s expanded military operations in Rafah and stated that “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed to prevent further irreversible harm to the people of Gaza.”

Writing in X, Sanchez said there should be “no exceptions” to the EU’s commitment to human rights, while also calling for the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas militants from southern Israel and brought into Gaza.

“We also recall the horrific events of October 7 and call for the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire to facilitate access to much-needed humanitarian supplies,” he wrote.

Spain, Ireland and Belgium are among the most critical countries in Europe’s Gaza campaign against Israel, with Hamas militants storming across the border on October 7, killing around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally. . Official data from Israel.

Israel has responded with punitive military operations that Hamas authorities in Gaza say have killed more than 28,500 people so far, mostly women and children.

On October 7, an estimated 250 people were taken hostage by Palestinian militants, of whom approximately 130 remain, with Israel stating that 29 of them are presumed dead.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – AFP)