MADRID: The prime ministers of Spain and Ireland asked the European Commission on Wednesday to urgently review whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza.

The two leaders, who have together with Belgium been Europe’s most outspoken about Israeli bombing in Gaza, said attacking Rafah posed “a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront”.

A Spanish government source said it was confident that European countries are unifying around a firmer position and for the European Commission to take more concrete action over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The source pointed to a tweet on Tuesday by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who said the Rafah incursion could generate an “unmitigated humanitarian catastrophe”.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said before talks scheduled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an attack on Rafah would jeopardise the humanitarian situation there.

While only Spain and Ireland signed the letter, the source said it expected further backing for a review of the agreement when ministers meet for the Council of Europe next month.

Their intervention follows South Africa’s referral of Israel to the International Court of Justice over allegations it was committing genocide.

The EU Commission confirmed receipt of the letter.

An EU spokesperson said: “We do urge all sides when it comes to Israel to respect international law and we note that there must be respect, there must be accountability for violations of international law.”

Two weeks ago, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he was in talks with other EU heads of governments to review the EU-Israel Association Agre­ement on the basis that Israel may be breaching the treaty’s human rights clause.

The 23-year-old agreement sets out a framework for free trade in goods, services and capital, based on “respect for human rights and democratic principles”. Varadkar said several EU states were also talking about a possible joint recognition of a Palestinian state.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024