Latest news with #AssociationAgreement
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Netherlands bans far-right Israeli ministers as EU considers sanctions over Gaza
Far-right Israeli lawmakers Itamar Ben Gvir, centre, and Bezalel Smotrich, right, attend the swearing-in ceremony for Israel's parliament, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo, Pool, File) THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands has banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country and the European Union has proposed suspending Israel from a lucrative tech investment program as frustration mounts over worsening conditions in Gaza. The ban targets hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. It was announced in a letter sent late Monday by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to lawmakers along with other measures, declaring 'The war in Gaza must stop.' The pair are champions of the Israeli settlement movement that supports continuing the war in Gaza, facilitating what they call the voluntary emigration of its Palestinian population and building Jewish settlements. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed financial sanctions on the two men last month. EU considers sanctions on Israel's science and tech access The European Commission on Monday proposed partially suspending Israel's access to a lucrative science and technology program. The European Parliament could call a vote to cut off Israel's access to the investment arm of the European Innovation Council. To pass, the vote would need 55% of the bloc's 27-member nations. The 900-million-euro investment program is focused on small businesses and 'disruptive innovations' that have 'potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence,' the commission said in a statement. It said the partial suspension of Israeli companies from applying for grants or equity investments worth 200 million euros annually is a targeted and reversible action and keeps intact Israel's access to roughly two-thirds of the program that is for civilian use. The commission found Israel's military campaign in Gaza breached terms of a bilateral deal between Brussels and Israel known as an Association Agreement, according to senior officials tasked with communicating for the commission who were not authorized to speak publicly. European countries pressure Israel to let in more aid Europe has widely soured on Israel over Gaza. Countries including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have sought to aggressively pressure Israel to let in more aid and cease military operations. Israel has yet to reach the six points agreed in a new aid deal with the EU, which include adequate amounts of daily trucks allowed or newly opened border crossings, according to senior officials. EU aid teams have been prevented from entering Gaza despite recent humanitarian pauses. The suspension is one of 10 options presented by the commission to member states. Other steps could be suspending an aviation agreement, blocking imports from settlements and curtailing travel for Israelis in the visa-free zone known as Schengen, according to a leaked document seen by The Associated Press and verified by two EU diplomats. Like the Netherlands, other nations could act on their own to sanction specific companies or individuals in Israel or the occupied West Bank. Pressure has been mounting on the Dutch government, which is gearing up for elections in October, to change course on Israeli policy. Last week, thousands demonstrated at train stations across the country, carrying pots and pans to signify the food shortage in Gaza. The government also will summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to urge Netanyahu to change course and 'immediately take measures that lead to a substantial and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip,' Veldkamp wrote. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich remained defiant. In a statement on social media, Smotrich said European leaders were surrendering to 'the lies of radical Islam' and Jews may not be able to live safely in Europe in the future. Ben-Gvir said in Europe 'a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted,' but he will continue to act. Israel says Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Gaza After international pressure, Israel over the weekend announced humanitarian pauses, airdrops and other measures meant to allow more aid to Gaza, but Palestinians say little or nothing has changed on the ground. The UN has described it as a one-week scale-up of aid and Israel has not said how long the latest measures would last. Israel asserts Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Palestinians in Gaza and accuses its militants of siphoning aid to support its rule in the territory. The UN denies aid looting is systematic and says it lessens or ends entirely when enough aid is allowed to enter Gaza. Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of crimes against humanity. They are accused of using 'starvation as a method of warfare' by restricting humanitarian aid and of intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Member states of the ICC are obliged to arrest the men if they arrive on their territory. Molly Quell And Sam Mcneil, The Associated Press McNeil reported from Brussels. Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
Nahar Net
7 hours ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
Netherlands bans far-right Israeli ministers as EU considers sanctions over Gaza
by Naharnet Newsdesk 29 July 2025, 15:23 The Netherlands has banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country and the European Union has proposed suspending Israel from a lucrative tech investment program as frustration mounts over worsening conditions in Gaza. The ban targets hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. It was announced in a letter sent late Monday by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to lawmakers along with other measures, declaring "The war in Gaza must stop." The pair are champions of the Israeli settlement movement that supports continuing the war in Gaza, facilitating what they call the voluntary emigration of its Palestinian population and building Jewish settlements. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed financial sanctions on the two men last month. EU considers sanctions on Israel's science and tech access The European Commission on Monday proposed partially suspending Israel's access to a lucrative science and technology program. The European Parliament could call a vote to cut off Israel's access to the investment arm of the European Innovation Council. To pass, the vote would need 55% of the bloc's 27-member nations. The €900 million investment program is focused on small businesses and "disruptive innovations" that have "potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence," the commission said in a statement. It said the partial suspension of Israeli companies from applying for grants or equity investments worth €200 million annually is a targeted and reversible action and keeps intact Israel's access to roughly two-thirds of the program that is for civilian use. The commission found Israel's military campaign in Gaza breached terms of a bilateral deal between Brussels and Israel known as an Association Agreement, according to senior officials tasked with communicating for the commission who were not authorized to speak publicly. European countries pressure Israel to let in more aid Europe has widely soured on Israel over Gaza. Countries including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have sought to aggressively pressure Israel to let in more aid and cease military operations. Israel has yet to reach the six points agreed in a new aid deal with the EU, which include adequate amounts of daily trucks allowed or newly opened border crossings, according to senior officials. EU aid teams have been prevented from entering Gaza despite recent humanitarian pauses. The suspension is one of 10 options presented by the commission to member states. Other steps could be suspending an aviation agreement, blocking imports from settlements and curtailing travel for Israelis in the visa-free zone known as Schengen, according to a leaked document seen by The Associated Press and verified by two EU diplomats. Like the Netherlands, other nations could act on their own to sanction specific companies or individuals in Israel or the occupied West Bank. Pressure has been mounting on the Dutch government, which is gearing up for elections in October, to change course on Israeli policy. Last week, thousands demonstrated at train stations across the country, carrying pots and pans to signify the food shortage in Gaza. The government also will summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to urge Netanyahu to change course and "immediately take measures that lead to a substantial and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip," Veldkamp wrote. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich remained defiant. In a statement on social media, Smotrich said European leaders were surrendering to "the lies of radical Islam" and Jews may not be able to live safely in Europe in the future. Ben-Gvir said in Europe "a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted," but he will continue to act. Israel says Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Gaza After international pressure, Israel over the weekend announced humanitarian pauses, airdrops and other measures meant to allow more aid to Gaza, but Palestinians say little or nothing has changed on the ground. The U.N. has described it as a one-week scale-up of aid and Israel has not said how long the latest measures would last. Israel asserts Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Palestinians in Gaza and accuses its militants of siphoning aid to support its rule in the territory. The U.N. denies aid looting is systematic and says it lessens or ends entirely when enough aid is allowed to enter Gaza. Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of crimes against humanity. They are accused of using "starvation as a method of warfare" by restricting humanitarian aid and of intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Member states of the ICC are obliged to arrest the men if they arrive on their territory.
The Hill
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Netherlands bans far-right Israeli ministers as EU considers sanctions over Gaza
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Netherlands has banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country and the European Union has proposed suspending Israel from a lucrative tech investment program as frustration mounts over worsening conditions in Gaza. The ban targets hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. It was announced in a letter sent late Monday by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to lawmakers along with other measures, declaring 'The war in Gaza must stop.' The pair are champions of the Israeli settlement movement that supports continuing the war in Gaza, facilitating what they call the voluntary emigration of its Palestinian population and building Jewish settlements. Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed financial sanctions on the two men last month. EU considers sanctions on Israel's science and tech access The European Commission on Monday proposed partially suspending Israel's access to a lucrative science and technology program. The European Parliament could call a vote to cut off Israel's access to the investment arm of the European Innovation Council. To pass, the vote would need 55% of the bloc's 27-member nations. The €900 million investment program is focused on small businesses and 'disruptive innovations' that have 'potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence,' the commission said in a statement. It said the partial suspension of Israeli companies from applying for grants or equity investments worth €200 million annually is a targeted and reversible action and keeps intact Israel's access to roughly two-thirds of the program that is for civilian use. The commission found Israel's military campaign in Gaza breached terms of a bilateral deal between Brussels and Israel known as an Association Agreement, according to senior officials tasked with communicating for the commission who were not authorized to speak publicly. European countries pressure Israel to let in more aid Europe has widely soured on Israel over Gaza. Countries including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have sought to aggressively pressure Israel to let in more aid and cease military operations. Israel has yet to reach the six points agreed in a new aid deal with the EU, which include adequate amounts of daily trucks allowed or newly opened border crossings, according to senior officials. EU aid teams have been prevented from entering Gaza despite recent humanitarian pauses. The suspension is one of 10 options presented by the commission to member states. Other steps could be suspending an aviation agreement, blocking imports from settlements and curtailing travel for Israelis in the visa-free zone known as Schengen, according to a leaked document seen by The Associated Press and verified by two EU diplomats. Like the Netherlands, other nations could act on their own to sanction specific companies or individuals in Israel or the occupied West Bank. Pressure has been mounting on the Dutch government, which is gearing up for elections in October, to change course on Israeli policy. Last week, thousands demonstrated at train stations across the country, carrying pots and pans to signify the food shortage in Gaza. The government also will summon the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands to urge Netanyahu to change course and 'immediately take measures that lead to a substantial and rapid improvement in the humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip,' Veldkamp wrote. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich remained defiant. In a statement on social media, Smotrich said European leaders were surrendering to 'the lies of radical Islam' and Jews may not be able to live safely in Europe in the future. Ben-Gvir said in Europe 'a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted,' but he will continue to act. Israel says Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Gaza After international pressure, Israel over the weekend announced humanitarian pauses, airdrops and other measures meant to allow more aid to Gaza, but Palestinians say little or nothing has changed on the ground. The U.N. has described it as a one-week scale-up of aid and Israel has not said how long the latest measures would last. Israel asserts Hamas is the reason aid isn't reaching Palestinians in Gaza and accuses its militants of siphoning aid to support its rule in the territory. The U.N. denies aid looting is systematic and says it lessens or ends entirely when enough aid is allowed to enter Gaza. Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are wanted by the International Criminal Court over allegations of crimes against humanity. They are accused of using 'starvation as a method of warfare' by restricting humanitarian aid and of intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Member states of the ICC are obliged to arrest the men if they arrive on their territory. ___
Euronews
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Exclusive: Cross-party MEPs call for EU sanctions on Israel over Gaza
A group of 40 cross-party MEPs are pressing on the European Union to suspend its trade deal with Israel and impose sanctions on the Netanyahu-led government, as an UN-backed body warns of signs of famine and widespread starvation in the Gaza Strip. In a joint statement seen exclusively by Euronews, the lawmakers call on the EU to hold the Israeli government accountable for actions that 'blatantly breach the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law.' The statement also urges Hamas to immediately release Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza after they were kidnapped from Israel during October 7 2023 attacks. 'Future generations will judge today's leaders on their response, or lack thereof, to the atrocities in Gaza. Failing to act now will be remembered as a moral stain on humanity,' the statement reads. 'The time for moral cowardice is over, and action must be swift.' The coalition of MEPs explicitly call for sanctions on the Israeli government, a move the EU has so far avoided despite allies including the United Kingdom and Norway moving to sanction two Israeli ministers considered extremist, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. On Tuesday, the Netherlands imposed travel bans on both ministers in response to the deepening crisis in Gaza. The 40 signatories also press on the Commission to suspend the EU's Association Agreement with Israel, which defines the trading and political relations between both sides, and which has often been touted as the best tool at the EU's disposal to pressure Israel into improving a spiralling humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. A previous review by the EU's diplomatic arm found indications Israel had breached the human rights obligations enshrined in its Association Agreement with the bloc, but the process failed to trigger any concrete reprisals beyond a discussion between the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and her Israeli counterpart, foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar. Those talks resulted in an 'agreement' by Israel to scale up the humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza. But concerns about the humanitarian situation on-the-ground have mounted since. On Monday, the European Commission tabled the partial suspension of Israel's access to the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme in response to its actions in Gaza. But the signatories of the statement call for a much more stringent response, warning "mere words of condemnation are inadequate." They represent 14 of the EU's 27 countries and six different political groups, from The Left to the centre-right European People's Party (EPP). Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has exposed deep political and national fault-lines in the European Union. But the deepening humanitarian crisis is prompting lawmakers from ideologically opposed groups to join forces in calling for more decisive EU action. 'MEPs from across the spectrum of pro-European, pro-democratic parties have united behind this statement,' MEP Evin Incir, who sits on the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, told Euronews, adding that more signatories were expected to support the statement in the coming hours. 'Our concerns are directed at both the European Commission and EU member states, who all need to be more decisive in their response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis,' she added. The statement comes as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global watchdog monitoring hunger with the backing of governments and the UN, said there is 'mounting evidence' that 'widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths' in the besieged territory. Israeli government officials have either denied that there is famine in Gaza or deflected the blame. There have been multiple reports of armed gangs looting aid deliveries and selling the contents on the black market, which could be exacerbating the crisis.
Barnama
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Former EU Foreign Policy Chief Slams Bloc's Failure To Act On Israel's Human Rights Violations
BRUSSELS, July 16 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The European Council missed its chance this week to do something to stop Israel's 'war crimes' and genocide in Gaza, according to a former EU foreign policy chief, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. "@EUCouncil failed yesterday to take a decision on Israel's violation of the Association Agreement's Human Rights clause. But this is in itself a decision: not to punish Israel's continued war crimes and allow the genocide in Gaza to continue unabated," Josep Borrell wrote on X on Wednesday. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs political and economic ties between the two parties, includes a binding clause requiring respect for human rights and democratic principles. Failure to comply with this clause can lead to sanctions or suspension of the agreement. bootstrap slideshow EU foreign ministers met on Monday and Tuesday to discuss growing concerns over Israel's attacks in Gaza, amid mounting civilian casualties and international calls for accountability. However, member states were unable to reach a consensus, resulting in no formal decision to suspend the agreement or impose sanctions. Borrell, who concluded his term as the EU's top diplomat last year, has been a vocal critic of Israel's attacks and has previously called for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which gives Tel Aviv preferential trade terms. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since late October 2023, killing over 58,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages and the spread of diseases. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
