"Israel" is expected to take part in the upcoming EU-Southern Neighbourhood ministerial meeting in Brussels on June 23, despite escalating diplomatic tensions between Tel Aviv and the European Union over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Euronews reported.

According to several Israeli and EU officials cited by Euronews, preparations are underway to ensure Israeli representation at the high-level gathering, which is held annually to strengthen cooperation between the EU and nine partner countries, as well as "Israel", in the southern Mediterranean.

The event will bring together foreign ministers from the EU’s 27 member states alongside representatives from the Israeli occupation, the state of Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia. One senior Israeli official told Euronews that "Israel’s" foreign minister, Gideon Saar, may attend, though his participation remains unconfirmed.

The meeting comes at a time of intensifying scrutiny of "Israel’s" actions in Gaza, particularly after recent reports from Palestinian health officials and humanitarian groups accusing Israeli forces of shooting civilians approaching aid distribution sites, according to Euronews.

While the Israeli military said it fired warning shots at a few individuals who approached its positions and left designated routes, the incident has further inflamed diplomatic criticism.

Tensions also escalated following the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’ announcement in late May that the bloc would assess whether "Israel" is violating its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, which underpins their political and trade relationship, according to Euronews.

Playing the victim card

"Israel’s" foreign ministry has pushed back firmly against the EU’s recent criticisms. Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Euronews the remarks by Kallas displayed “a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing.”

Still, officials from both sides have reiterated the importance of maintaining open diplomatic channels, particularly through regional formats like the EU-Southern Neighbourhood meeting.

According to Euronews, although "Israel’s" attendance has been confirmed in principle, Euronews noted that the participation of Foreign Minister Saar has not yet been finalized.

The Netherlands, a strong backer of "Israel" within the EU, was among the countries supporting the Article 2 review. Dutch officials declared "Israel’s" restriction of aid into Gaza, which saw critical supplies enter the Strip for the first time in over 11 weeks this Monday, a violation of international humanitarian law and thus a breach of the Association Agreement’s core commitments.

No clear deadline has been given for the conclusion of the review, which is being conducted by the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), according to Euronews.

Brussels stresses routine nature of regional cooperation

EU officials have emphasized that the June 23 gathering is a scheduled forum held under the EU Southern Neighbourhood framework and will not directly address the Gaza genocide. “This is a routine ministerial meeting,” one EU official told Euronews, highlighting that the dialogue covers issues such as economic development, energy cooperation, climate change, governance, and migration.

Despite political friction, "Israel" remains a central partner for the EU, with trade between the two surpassing €45 billion annually.

The EU’s engagement with southern Mediterranean states traces back to the 1995 Barcelona Declaration, which sought to make the region “an area of dialogue, exchange, and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability, and prosperity.”

According to Euronews, in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU recommitted to annual meetings with Southern Neighbourhood partners, reaffirming shared goals on human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law.

The last such ministerial meeting was held in Barcelona in 2022, with participants discussing regional cooperation and the implications of the war in Ukraine. This year’s summit, although occurring under strained circumstances, reflects the EU’s continued attempt at striking a diplomatic balancing act, engaging "Israel" while reassessing the terms of that engagement.