Costa: Israel's Gaza Plan Must Have 'Consequences' on EU Relations

European Council President António Costa stated that Israel's decision to occupy Gaza City 'must have consequences on EU-Israel relations.' Costa called on the Israeli government to reconsider its decision and added that the issue would be assessed by the Council.

According to Costa, the decision 'not only violates the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19, but also undermines the fundamental principles of international law and global values.' Costa made the above statement in a statement on X.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also called on Israel to revise its plan for Gaza. In late June, the European Commission had ruled that Israel was violating an article of the EU-Israel Association Agreement regarding respect for human rights and proposed suspending some European funding for Israeli start-ups. However, this decision has not yet been given the green light by the member states.

The 27 member states appear divided on the stance they should take towards Israel since the start of its war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.

Source: APE-MPE-Reuters-AFP