Ireland and Spain seek urgent review of EU-Israel trade deal amid concern over Gaza
The Taoiseach and Spanish prime minister are calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Leo Varadkar and Pedro Sanchez have written to the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, expressing their deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
The two leaders are urging the bloc to maintain support for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians, UNRWA.
Mr Varadkar and Mr Sanchez also called for the Commission to take action if Israel is found to be in breach of the Association Agreement.
"We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza... The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront," they said in a joint letter shared by the Spanish government.
"We also recall the horror of October 7, and call for the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire that can facilitate access for urgently needed humanitarian supplies," it read.
The letter comes a day after Mr Varadkar said Israel has become “blinded by rage” and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States any more.
The Taoiseach was answering questions in the Dáil about the number of Palestinians who have been forced to crowd into Rafah, which was targeted in a recent Israeli military operation.
