Spain Demands EU suspend Trade Deal with Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns
Brussels, Belgium – The Spanish goverment is leading a push for the european Union to suspend its free trade agreement with Israel, citing alleged human rights breaches during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This call to action comes as EU foreign ministers convened in Brussels on Monday to discuss potential measures to pressure Israel to address the escalating humanitarian crisis [[source]].
A recent EU review reportedly found that Israel’s actions during its invasion of Gaza violated its obligations under the “association agreement” with the EU, which governs trade and relations between the two entities [[source]]. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has explicitly stated the need to suspend the EU-Israel deal,alongside an embargo on future arms sales and sanctions against individuals obstructing a two-state solution [[source]].
The demand follows a devastating 20-month conflict that has resulted in over 55,000 Palestinian deaths, according to reports [[source]]. The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7th, 2023, which claimed 1,200 lives and led to the capture of 251 hostages
