Israel 'in breach' of EU's human rights obligations, foreign policy arm says

The European External Action Service, the European Union's foreign policy arm, said there are indications Israel has breached its human rights obligations under the terms of a pact governing its ties with the European Union.

According to a document seen by the Reuters and DPA news agencies, Israel would be "in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement."

The organisation cited an assessment by independent international institutions as its source.

EU foreign ministers in May decided to review whether Israel was adhering to the principles of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which include that relations between the parties to the agreement are based on respect for human rights.

The review report, prepared under the leadership of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, concludes that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip violate this fundamental principle, according to the DPA report.

An Israeli blockade kept humanitarian aid from reaching people in Gaza for over two months. Israeli officials claimed the Hamas militant group benefited from the supplies.

EU member nations will need to decide how to respond to the analysis. Their options range from suspending the current agreement to imposing economic sanctions on Israel.

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