Netherlands seeks to suspend EU-Israel trade deal, top EU official accuses Israel of genocide

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced on Thursday that the Netherlands intends to suspend the trade component of the Israel-EU Association Agreement.

Veldkamp said he informed Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Modi Ephraim, that the decision was driven by growing international criticism of the war in Gaza. The Dutch government, in line with much of the international community, has attributed primary responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation to Israel, while placing less emphasis on the fact that Hamas continues to hold 50 Israeli hostages and has been accused of obstructing food deliveries to Gaza’s civilian population.

In recent weeks, the Dutch government has taken several diplomatic measures against Israel. Last month, added Israel to a list of state actors deemed to pose a potential threat, citing alleged attempts by Jerusalem to influence political opinion in the Netherlands. The move placed Israel – a democratic ally – in the same category as authoritarian states such as Russia and Iran.

The Netherlands has also accused Israel of threatening the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to its controversial arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes” in Gaza. In addition, the Dutch government recently declared the Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich “personae non grata,” barring them from entering the Netherlands over their alleged calls for “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza.

Furthermore, European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera accused Israel on Thursday of committing “genocide” in Gaza.

“What we are seeing is a concrete population being targeted, killed and condemned to starve to death,” Ribera said in an interview with Politico. “If it is not genocide, it looks very much like the definition used to express its meaning.”

Ribera is the first top EU official to publicly embrace the widespread accusations of “genocide” and “famine” against Israel.

“A concrete population is confined with no homes – being destroyed – no food, water or medicines – being forbidden to access – and subject to bombing and shooting even when they are trying to get humanitarian aid,” Ribera argued.

She further remarked that Israeli military operations against Hamas were in violation of international law.

“What… has been said and done by the Israeli authorities go far beyond the international law limits,” she argued without elaborating. The Spanish-born EU official also commended announcements by several Western governments, including France and the United Kingdom, to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

“Recognition is a good step forward, but it is not enough to build peace, stability and respect,” she stated.

Israel has a stated policy of avoiding deliberate harm to civilians, and over the past 22 months of war, has made wide efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza – including relocating residents away from combat zones –despite the risks to IDF soldiers.

A recent UN report indicated that nearly 90% of aid deliveries to Gaza have been looted, reportedly including by Hamas forces. In addition, the German news outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung recently reported that some widely circulated images of aid distribution in Gaza were staged to promote a narrative of widespread starvation.

Israel and the United States argue that unilaterally recognizing Palestine would amount to effectively rewarding Hamas for its mass terror attack. On Oct. 7, 2023, the terror group launched a surprise invasion in southern Israel, massacring 1,200 people, including women and children, and taking 251 hostages.

Hamas still holds 50 Israeli hostages, including 20 who are presumed to be still alive.