EditFrance and Netherlands push for EU review of Israel ties, but unified position seems elusive
Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic maintain strong support for Israel
France and the Netherlands have called for a reassessment of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing alleged human rights violations in Gaza, but their push is unlikely to galvanize a unified EU position due to deep internal divisions and competing priorities.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot endorsed the Dutch initiative on 12 May, describing it as “legitimate” in interviews with France Info and Le Monde. The proposal, driven by concerns over Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid, faces significant hurdles in a fragmented European Union, where member states remain split on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A call for review amid Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
The Netherlands, backed by France, has urged the European Commission to evaluate whether Israel’s actions in Gaza comply with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, effective since 2000. This article mandates that EU-Israel relations – encompassing political dialogue, economic cooperation, and a free trade area – be grounded in respect for human rights and democratic principles. “Palestinians in Gaza face hunger, thirst, and severe shortages, pushing the region toward chaos,” Barrot said, echoing Dutch concerns that Israel’s aid blockade violates these commitments.
The Gaza crisis, exacerbated by Israel’s military operations and a prolonged aid blockade following the collapse of a March 2025 truce, has drawn global alarm. The United Nations has warned of an impending famine, with over 52,000 Palestinian deaths—mostly civilians—reported by Gaza’s Hamas-run health authorities since the conflict escalated after Hamas’ 7 October 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Israel’s restrictions on aid have intensified European scrutiny, prompting France and the Netherlands to advocate for accountability.
Why a unified EU position is unlikely
Despite the moral weight of their appeal, France and the Netherlands face an uphill battle in securing EU consensus. The EU’s foreign policy requires unanimous agreement among its 27 member states, a threshold rarely met on contentious issues like Israel-Palestine.
Countries such as Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic maintain strong support for Israel’s security, often prioritizing its right to self-defense over criticism of its Gaza policies. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking in Jerusalem on May 11, 2025, emphasized Israel’s security while urging a political solution, stating, “Hamas must be disarmed, but Israel’s long-term security requires serious ceasefire negotiations.” Germany’s cautious stance reflects its historical commitment to Israel, complicating efforts to rally EU support for sanctions or a suspension of the agreement.
Other member states, including Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, have historically aligned with U.S. and Israeli positions, further diluting the Franco-Dutch initiative. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a vocal supporter of Israel, is likely to block any move perceived as punitive.
Meanwhile, nations like Ireland and Spain, which recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024, may support a review but lack the influence to sway the broader bloc. The European Commission, tasked with assessing compliance, operates under political constraints and is unlikely to act decisively without a clear mandate from member states.
The EU’s fragmented approach is compounded by its reliance on U.S. leadership in Middle East diplomacy. A 11 May Guardian editorial argued that U.S. President Donald Trump holds unique leverage to halt the Gaza conflict, a view shared by some European diplomats who see EU action as secondary to Washington’s role. A new U.S. aid distribution proposal for Gaza, welcomed by Wadephul and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, underscores Washington’s dominance in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.
Broader context: Gaza, occupation, and EU divisions
The Franco-Dutch call comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s Gaza policies. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s May 2025 declaration that Israel will “occupy” Gaza, rejecting withdrawal even under a new hostage deal, has alarmed European capitals. This stance, reported by Deutsche Welle, reverses Israel’s 2005 disengagement, when then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon evacuated 21 settlements. Smotrich’s rhetoric, coupled with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported resettlement plans, has fuelled accusations of violating international law, strengthening the case for a review among critics like France and the Netherlands.
European responses remain varied. Wadephul, during meetings with Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, advocated for a Gaza free of Hamas but opposed permanent Israeli occupation or expulsion of its two million residents. The hawkish Israeli Tikva Forum, representing some hostage families, rejected the U.S. aid plan, demanding Hamas release the 59 remaining captives first. Meanwhile, unilateral recognitions of Palestinian statehood by Ireland, Spain, Norway, and Slovenia in 2024, with Malta and possibly France considering similar moves, have provoked warnings from Saar of Israeli “unilateral action,” further polarizing EU-Israel relations.
Challenges and implications
The Franco-Dutch initiative reflects growing European frustration with the Gaza crisis and the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, but its impact is likely to be symbolic. The EU’s inability to forge a unified foreign policy, evident in past failures to address conflicts like Syria or Libya, undermines the prospects of a substantive review. Even if the European Commission investigates, any decision to suspend or amend the EU-Israel Agreement would require Council approval, where vetoes from pro-Israel states are probable.
For France and the Netherlands, the push serves domestic and diplomatic purposes, signalling solidarity with Palestinian suffering and aligning with progressive EU factions. However, without broader support, their efforts risk being overshadowed by U.S.-led initiatives or internal EU discord. The Gaza conflict’s complexity—balancing Israel’s security, Hamas’ actions, and Palestinian humanitarian needs—further complicates a cohesive EU stance.
As the international community grapples with the crisis, France and the Netherlands have spotlighted the EU’s potential role, but the bloc’s structural limitations and divergent interests make a unified position a distant prospect. The focus now shifts to whether their call can sustain momentum or fade amid the EU’s perennial struggle for coherence.
Sources: Reuters, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, edited by a.k.
Internally displaced Palestinians who fled from the east of Gaza City and northern Gaza Strip move in the streets of Gaza City on, 11 May 2025. [EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED SABER]
Updated: May 12, 2025 - 11:51
