EU to consider suspending Israel’s access to Horizon funding
European commissioners are set to discuss a proposal to partially suspend Israel’s access to the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme, amid mounting pressure from member states to hold Israel accountable over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Calls for action intensified last week, when several European Union member states accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments under an agreement aimed at improving humanitarian access to Gaza.
Israel has participated in EU research frameworks since 1996, contributing to joint science and innovation projects. Horizon Europe, the bloc’s current research programme, is worth nearly 100 billion euros ($117bn).
The debate over Horizon comes shortly after the European Commission refused to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, despite mounting calls from rights groups and some member states.
Amnesty International condemned the decision, calling it a “cruel and unlawful betrayal” of the EU’s human rights obligations.
UK’s Starmer says ‘images of starving children revolting’
The British prime minister, sitting alongside Trump in Scotland, also weighed in on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as “absolutely intolerable”.
“Certainly speaking for the British public and myself, those images of starving children in particular are revolting,” Starmer said. “And there’s a sense of revulsion in the British public at what they’re seeing. They know – and we know – humanitarian aid needs to get in at speed, at volume.”
He added: “Yes, some can be airdropped, but the trucks need to get in because that’s the only way you can get the volume in.”
Yes your policies are revolting, got anything else but words?
Oh more words, deflection...
Starmer says Hamas can ‘play no role’ in future Gaza governance
Starmer says while the focus should be on getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, “we also need to look beyond that situation to what then happens in the event of a ceasefire.”
“We have to be absolutely clear that Hamas can play no part in any future governance in Palestine,” the prime minister said at a news conference with Trump. “It’s really important that we’re clear about what triggered this, who took the hostages.”
Beginning today, France and Saudi Arabia are to co-host a three-day UN conference in New York focused on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Netanyahu denies Israel has ‘starvation policy’ for Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says “there is no starvation” and “no policy of starvation” in Gaza, defying reports of mounting malnutrition deaths caused by Israel’s months-long aid blockade.
In comments carried by Israel’s Arutz Sheva media, Netanyahu vowed Israel will “continue to fight till we achieve the release of our hostages and the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities”.
“They shall be there no more,” said Netanyahu.
