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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/eu-weighs--israel--trade-deal-as-leaked-war-crimes-report-hi">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">EU weighs 'Israel' trade deal as leaked war crimes report hits hard</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time">June 4, 2025</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>A
leaked 2024 EU report published by EUobserver accuses "Israel" of war
crimes in Gaza, citing mass killings and starvation tactics.</p><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/6/4/aa387b3c-e916-4280-80ef-e93cae60a76b.jpg?v=4&width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/6/4/aa387b3c-e916-4280-80ef-e93cae60a76b.jpg?v=4&width=1000&preset=w700" alt="Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in Gaza City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in Gaza City, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (<em>AP</em>)
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<p>A confidential 2024 European Union report, now fully leaked and published in its entirety by <em>EUobserver</em>,
has significantly intensified scrutiny on both "Israel" and the EU. The
internal document exposes extensive violations of international
humanitarian law committed by "Israel" in Gaza and may further
complicate EU leaders\u2019 efforts to justify the continuation of "Israel\u2019s"
preferential trade status under the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/eu-reviews-association-agreement-with--israel--over-gaza-cri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU-"Israel" association agreement</a>, an accord that facilitates the export of approximately \u20ac15 billion worth of goods annually.</p>
<p>Originally commissioned by then-EU foreign affairs chief Josep
Borrell, the report was prepared by the EU\u2019s human rights unit and had,
until now, only been partially cited in select media outlets. In its
full release, <em>EUobserver</em> reveals that the report accuses
"Israel" of the mass killing of civilians, including women and children,
as well as the intentional use of starvation as a weapon of war, acts
which it states may constitute atrocity crimes under international
humanitarian law.</p>
<p>While the report emphasizes that it includes \u201cno value judgment by \u2026
the EU,\u201d it refers to findings from key international bodies such as the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International
Court of Justice (ICJ). It states unequivocally that "Israel" is in
violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.</p>
<p>Human Rights Watch\u2019s Claudio Francavilla commented, \u201cThe evidence is
so overwhelming the EU would make a joke of itself if it were to say
Israel was in compliance with article 2 or with the laws of war.\u201d He
warned that ignoring these findings would undermine the UN system and
the authority of international legal institutions.</p>
<h2>EU institutions under scrutiny ahead of trade review</h2>
<p>The EU Commission and the EU foreign service are currently conducting
a formal review of the EU-"Israel" trade agreement under Article 2 of
the pact, which mandates adherence to human rights and democratic
principles. The review is due to conclude by 23 June, just before the
last EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting ahead of the summer break.</p>
<p>Despite rising calls for action, a full suspension of the EU-"Israel" trade agreement <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--losing-european-support-as-it-intensifies-gaza-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remains unlikely</a>.
Approval would require unanimous support from all EU member states, an
outcome complicated by strong opposition from countries like Hungary.</p>
<p>Civil society groups and member states, such as Ireland and Spain,
have repeatedly urged the suspension of the agreement. Yet, the European
Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently
avoided confronting "Israel" directly, leading to concerns that the
review's findings may be diluted.</p>
<p>Only a minority of Members of the European Parliament have formally
supported suspension. The EU foreign service has declined to clarify
whether the review\u2019s findings will be made public, stating only, \u201cNo
comment on the process.\u201d</p>
<h2>Legal, political implications under Article 2</h2>
<p>Beyond Gaza, the report references "Israel\u2019s" actions in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, all relevant to the <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/europe-s-political-shift--war-moves-gravity-center-away-from" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU\u2019s legal obligations</a>
under Article 2. Experts stress that the EU risks violating its own
treaty principles by failing to respond to documented human rights
violations.</p>
<p>H.A. Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute emphasized, \u201cThe
[leaked] document makes it abundantly clear that the EU recognised quite
some time ago that abuses were taking place, and yet avoided taking
actions that are mandated by its own rules.\u201d</p>
<p>Since the report's completion in November 2024, "Israel's" violations
have escalated. On May 16, 2025, UN human rights chief Volker Turk
described the ongoing situation as \u201cethnic cleansing". A separate UN
Commission of Inquiry declared on March 13 that "Israel" was responsible
for \u201cthe crime against humanity of extermination,\u201d as well as
gender-based violence against <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--orphaned-39-000-palestinian-children-in-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Palestinian women and children</a>, acts it concluded amounted to torture or inhuman treatment.</p>
<p>These allegations have compounded pressure on EU institutions to take
a clear stance in line with their declared commitment to human rights.</p>
<h3>Suspension requires qualified majority</h3>
<p>Suspending only the trade elements of the agreement would require a
qualified majority, an option that could cost "Israel" around \u20ac1 billion
annually, according to civil society estimates. For this to pass, key
member states like Germany or Italy would need to shift their position.
As of now, neither country has joined the 17 EU states that called for
the Article 2 review on May 20.</p>
<h4>'Sanctions-free diplomacy' failed to achieve change</h4>
<p>Observers warn that the EU\u2019s global standing is at stake. Francavilla
noted that 20 months of "sanctions-free diplomacy" have failed to
achieve change. \u201cIsrael has done exactly the opposite\u201d of what
international institutions have demanded, he said.</p>
<p>Experts also caution that if "Israel" increases humanitarian access
just before the June 23 deadline, EU leadership might use that gesture
to justify inaction, a scenario that Francavilla called a \u201cnightmare\u201d
and a profound demonstration of \u201cpolitical stupidity".</p>
<p>Hellyer echoed that sentiment, warning such a move would deal
\u201csubstantial damage to the EU's credibility worldwide on issues of human
rights.\u201d</p>
<p>Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations added that
internal EU discussions suggest the Commission may delay the decision,
effectively leaving it to member states. He observed that while Germany
is historically reluctant to criticize "Israel", domestic dissent is
growing. \u201cThe more Israel\u2019s destruction of Gaza continues,\u201d he said,
\u201cthe more likely it is Berlin and Rome will support, or at least not
oppose, meaningful EU action.\u201d</p>
<p><strong>Read more:<a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/european-public-support-for--israel--reaches-record-low--you" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> European public support for 'Israel' reaches record-low: YouGov</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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