European Union foreign ministers on Monday rebuffed a proposal to suspend political dialogue with Israel put forward by the bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, who cited concerns about possible human rights violations in the war in Gaza.
Borrell had written to the ministers ahead of Monday’s meeting in Brussels, citing “serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza”.
But Borrell and other officials said the ministers did not approve the move.
“Most of the member states considered that it was much better to continue having (a) diplomatic and political relationship with Israel,” Borrell told a press conference after the meeting.
“But at least I put on the table all the information produced by United Nations organisations and every international organisation working in Gaza and the West Bank and in Lebanon in order to judge the way the war is being waged.”
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters: “We know that there are tragic events in Gaza, huge civilian casualties, but we do not forget who started the current cycle of violence.”
