According to Reuters, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will co-chair a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council with the EU High Representative on Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas. This is the first meeting since 2022, focusing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israel-Palestine relations and changes in the region.
"The Associate Council meeting on February 24 is an important opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the partnership between Israel and the EU," Israel's Ambassador to the EU, Haim Regev, told Reuters.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israeli residential areas, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to data from Israel.
In response, Israel launched a military campaign, killing at least 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health agencies. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently living in temporary shelters and dependent on humanitarian aid.
This conflict has caused division within the EU. Although all member countries condemned the Hamas attack, Israeli views on the military campaign were not consistent. Some countries supported Israel's actions, while others criticized the extent of damage to Palestinian civilians.
In February 2024, the leaders of Spain and Ireland sent a letter to the European Commission, asking for consideration of whether Israel would comply with human rights commitments under the EU- Israel Association Agreement in 2000. This agreement is the basis for political and economic cooperation between the two sides.
Ahead of the February 24 meeting, the 27 EU member states have reached a thoa thuanement, which would emphasize Israel's commitment to security and affirm that "Palestinians must be guaranteed a safe and dignified return home," according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, US President Donald Trump caused outrage among Arab countries and Western allies when he proposed that the US should "accept" Gaza, permanently deport Palestinians and turn the area into "the Red River of the Middle East".
The meeting in Brussels is expected to help the two sides find a common path in resolving the Gaza crisis, while shaping the EU's role in the post-conflict reconstruction period.
