{"id":29343,"date":"2025-05-22T00:26:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T21:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=29343"},"modified":"2025-05-22T00:26:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T21:26:35","slug":"uk-halts-trade-talks-eu-reviews-trade-ties-with-israel-over-gaza-war-and-aid-blockade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/uk-halts-trade-talks-eu-reviews-trade-ties-with-israel-over-gaza-war-and-aid-blockade\/","title":{"rendered":"UK halts trade talks, EU reviews trade ties with Israel over Gaza war and aid blockade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

7 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifying and Israeli military actions drawing global condemnation, the UK has paused trade talks with Israel, while the EU is reassessing its broader political and economic ties.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK and EU officials cited deep concerns over the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza and alarming incident in the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moves come amid mounting international criticism over Israel\u2019s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a chilling event in which Israeli forces fired warning shots at an international diplomatic delegation visiting the Jenin refugee camp on May 21, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


EU initiates trade review over Gaza atrocities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 20, 2025, European Union foreign ministers agreed to formally review the bloc\u2019s trade ties with Israel, acting under mounting pressure from member states and civil society groups alarmed by what they describe as Israel\u2019s disregard for human rights in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaja Kallas, the EU\u2019s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, announced the decision, saying it followed \u201ca strong majority\u201d of the 27 EU member states in favor of a trade review during a foreign ministers\u2019 meeting in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat it tells is that the countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable, and what we want is to really help the people, and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid so that it will reach the people,\u201d Kallas told journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Israeli<\/a>
Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas. (Image Credit: AP\/Fatima Shbair\/EEAS\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The review targets the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs political, economic, and trade relations between the two sides. Under Article 2 of the agreement, cooperation is conditioned on \u201crespect for human rights and democratic principles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Momentum for the review has grown as Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire. Though Israel allowed 93 aid trucks into Gaza on Tuesday, Kallas called it a \u201cdrop in the ocean\u201d compared to the needs of the suffering population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgium\u2019s foreign minister, Maxime Prevost, expressed strong support for the review, stating he had \u201cno doubt\u201d that Israel was violating human rights in Gaza and that the move could eventually lead to a full suspension of the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventeen EU member states backed the review, with the Netherlands leading the charge. Previous efforts by Ireland and Spain to push for a suspension had failed due to opposition from more pro-Israel countries. This week\u2019s developments reflect a notable shift in EU consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa The #EU<\/a> said Tuesday it will review its trade deal with \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1 #Israel<\/a> over alleged human rights abuses linked to the #Gaza<\/a> aid blockade.

\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 In London, Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israel\u2019s aid restrictions and \u201cexpanding the war\u201d in Gaza \u201cindefensible\u201d pic.twitter.com\/62ZkkAj5p6<\/a><\/p>— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 21, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>