Netherlands urges review of EU-Israel trade deal over ‘catastrophic’ Gaza aid block

Veldkamp described the Israeli ban on the supply of aid into Gaza as “catastrophic, truly dismal” and in clear breach of international humanitarian law. He has written to the head of the European Union foreign service Kaja Kallas requesting an urgent review, saying he believes Israel is now in breach of the association agreement. The Dutch government would veto any extension of the EU-Israel action plan, the agreement implementing the association agreement that came into force in 2000, he added. Article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement stipulates that their relations are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. In his letter to Kallas, Veldkamp said Israel’s proposed system of aid distribution appeared incompatible with the “principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence”.