A demonstration in Spain demanding an end to genocide in the Gaza Strip (Anatolia)

Prime Ministers of Spain Pedro Sanchez and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar have asked the European Commission to urgently review the extent to which Israel “respects” its human rights obligations in the Gaza Strip.

Sanchez Varadkar said in a joint letter published on Wednesday on the

The letter requested "an urgent investigation into whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles a fundamental element of their relationship."

This agreement is the basic pillar of trade relations between the European Union and Israel, and it entered into force in 2000 after being signed in 1995.

“If it becomes clear that Israel is violating the Convention,” the letter said, the Commission must propose “appropriate measures for the Council to consider.”

In their letter, Sanchez and Varadkar called for the release of detainees in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire that would facilitate the delivery of necessary humanitarian supplies to the residents of the Strip.

Commission spokeswoman Ariana Podesta told media that the European Commission had received the letter and would look into it.

The spokeswoman for the European Union's foreign policy representative, Nabila Masrali, was unable to determine how the Commission would review the human rights component of the agreement, but she said, "There must be accountability for any violation of international law."

She added that the European Union constantly stresses the importance of protecting civilians, and regrets the human losses, and it conveys these messages “in its communications with the Israeli authorities.”

There are more than 1.4 million Palestinians trapped in Rafah, while Israeli forces are preparing for a large-scale ground operation that has raised international concern about the possibility of large human losses in the war that Israel has been waging for 4 months in Gaza.

A Spanish government source said he was confident that European countries were uniting around a tougher position, and that the European Commission would take more concrete measures regarding Israel's actions in Gaza.

The source referred to a tweet yesterday, Tuesday, by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union Council, in which he said that this could lead to a “total humanitarian catastrophe.”

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

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar stated two weeks ago that he was holding talks with other heads of government from European Union countries to review the association agreement between the bloc and Israel on the grounds that Tel Aviv may be violating the human rights clause in the agreement.

So far, only Spain and Ireland have announced support for the review.

Varadkar said that several European Union countries were also talking about possible joint recognition of a Palestinian state.

Ireland has long championed Palestinian rights, and officials in this country have repeatedly said that the government is considering recognizing a Palestinian state.

Spain has also repeatedly called for recognition of a Palestinian state.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies