In a move that has stirred international debate, Spain has written to the European Union to request a review of its economic and political agreements with Israel, citing the ongoing and unsustainable war in Gaza. The letter, signed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, asks Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, to closely examine the human rights clause of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and assess whether it is being respected in practice.
In the correspondence, both leaders urge the Commission to urgently determine whether Israel is fulfilling its commitments under the association, and to propose appropriate measures if those commitments are not being met. The request is framed against the backdrop of the looming risk of a humanitarian catastrophe and the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, as well as the ongoing and evolving situation in Gaza since October 2023. This context includes broad concerns about potential violations of International Humanitarian Law.
If the Commission finds indications of a breach of the agreement and offers proposals, those recommendations could be discussed at the European leaders’ summit in Brussels scheduled for March 21 and 22, according to sources from the Spanish government.
Both heads of government stress the urgency of maintaining a clear political path to end the conflict and advocate for a two-state solution as the sole way to ensure that the cycle of violence does not repeat itself. They argue that the EU bears responsibility to act, coordinating with the involved parties and the international community, including through an international peace conference, as agreed by the European Council on October 26.
Sánchez and Varadkar express deep concern about the deteriorating situation in both Israel and Gaza, particularly regarding the impact of the ongoing conflict on innocent Palestinians, including children and women. The expansion of the military operation in the Rafah area is described as a severe and imminent threat that the international community must address with urgency.
They also remind that nearly 28,000 Palestinians have died and more than 67,000 have been wounded, with over 1.9 million displaced within Gaza, representing about 85% of the population.
The two presidents reaffirm a firm condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 and demand the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages. They emphasize that Israel has the right to defend itself but must do so in accordance with international law, which obliges the protection of civilians. The response, they insist, should adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.