Netherlands urges review of EU-Israel trade deal over ‘catastrophic’ Gaza aid block
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/netherlands-urges-review-of-eu-israel-trade-deal-over-catastrophic-gaza-aid-block
The Dutch government, seen as one of Israel’s most loyal allies in the European Union, is calling for an urgent review of the EU Israel association agreement, the basis for the EU-Israeli free trade agreement, the Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Guardian.
Veldkamp described the Israeli ban on the supply of aid into Gaza as “catastrophic, truly dismal” and in clear breach of international humanitarian law.
He has written to the head of the European Union foreign service Kaja Kallas requesting an urgent review, saying he believes Israel is now in breach of the association agreement.
The EU is Israel’s largest trade partner. The Dutch government has in the past led moves to block discussion of the association agreement’s suspension, a lever most persistently advocated by Ireland and Spain.
Explaining his position Veldkamp said: “You cannot starve the people of the Gaza Strip. It is against international law. It’s morally wrong. It’s dangerous. I don’t think it’s in Israel’s own interest.”
Chances for a ceasefire appeared “very, very slim,” he said, making the situation “unbearable”.
Europe cannot remain on the sidelines in Gaza
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-cannot-remain-on-the-sidelines-in-gaza/
The bloc’s failure to step up carries serious geopolitical costs.
EU leaders have issued countless calls to respect international law and pursue a two-state solution — but when it comes to action, the bloc has been largely absent. A “paper tiger” loud in rhetoric but toothless in practice, it wasn’t even invited to ceasefire or hostage negotiations.
The bloc’s marginalization on Gaza is partly self-inflicted, as it settled for being a payer of aid rather than a diplomatic player. It poured billions into assistance for Palestine and offered routine support for a two-state solution, while shying away from putting political pressure on Israel.
Meanwhile, Brussels gave Israel unfettered access to its market without seeking to leverage to push for the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestine and sustainable peace. Simply put, aid and trade became Europe’s default instead of hard diplomacy — a far cry from the geopolitical role trumpeted in the Lisbon Treaty.
Of course, as a union of 27 nations, the EU faces structural hurdles. Member countries’ interests often diverge — some (such as Germany) are staunchly pro-Israel while others (such as Ireland) lean pro-Palestinian — making a unified stance difficult. EU foreign policy still requires unanimity, so any single holdout can veto collective action. And even though the bloc’s rules allow majority votes or coalitions of the willing, these tools have never been used.
The continued insistence on full consensus has led to paralysis, fueling the criticism that Europe acts too little, too late.
Meanwhile, by turning a blind eye to blatant rights violations in Gaza, the EU is also undermining its credibility as a champion of international law. The moral authority it gained by standing up to Russia is being diminished by its timidity on Israel, with many in the global south already perceiving a glaring double standard — a reality that goes some way in explaining why hardly any non-Western country joined Europe’s Russia sanctions.
This credibility gap also makes it harder for the EU to build the partnerships it needs to pursue “strategic autonomy” in an increasingly multipolar world. Moreover, public opinion is shifting within Europe as well: Long one of Israel’s staunchest allies, Germany now has a majority of citizens opposing the Gaza war.
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Finally, the bloc has to form coalitions of the willing. Europe can no longer allow one or two dissenters to hold its foreign policy hostage. If unanimity is impossible, willing members must band together and act anyway. Just as member countries are coordinating to bypass Hungary’s veto on Russia, the same can be done for the Middle East.
The horrific civilian toll in Gaza is actively testing whether the EU’s proclaimed principles mean anything. The bloc has the influence and resources to make a difference, and it still has considerable tools at its disposal to do so — what it lacks is the courage to act.
