Luxembourg: The European Left Alliance on Monday called on EU foreign ministers to immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing a citizens' initiative demanding action on Palestine that has gathered over 1 million signatures.
According to Anadolu Agency, the alliance issued a joint statement ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, highlighting that the European Citizens' Initiative Justice for Palestine surpassed the required threshold in under three months. The initiative also met the national signature threshold in 11 EU member states, exceeding the minimum of seven as per EU rules.
'This is the loudest democratic mandate the European Union has received on its foreign policy in years, and it leaves the Foreign Affairs Council with no excuse to delay any longer,' the alliance emphasized in their statement.
The group accused Israel of ongoing actions including 'waging a genocide in Gaza,' increasing 'illegal annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,' and conducting strikes on Lebanon. They argued these actions represent 'systematic, documented violations of international humanitarian law, human rights, and of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.'
The statement concluded with a strong demand from the European Left Alliance for the Council to 'immediately fully suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.'
