GSF, GMTG slam EU over complicity in crimes against Palestinians
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At a protest in Luxembourg, activists called on EU leaders to review the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, arguing that continued cooperation ignores human rights violations.
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The European Union flag stands inside the atrium at the European Council building in Brussels, on June 17, 2024 (AP, File)
Civil society groups and international solidarity activists gathered in Luxembourg on Friday ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to urge European governments to suspend trade and cooperation agreements with “Israel".
The protest, organized by the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and the Global Movement to Gaza (GMTG), highlighted concerns over “Israel’s” treatment of Palestinians and Europe’s economic and political ties with the occupation.
The EU-“Israel” Association Agreement, first signed in 2000, forms the legal and economic framework governing trade, research cooperation, and political dialogue between the European Union and "Israel". Campaigners at the Luxembourg demonstration argued that continuing or expanding the agreement without conditions could signal European approval of policies they say violate international law.
“Europe cannot speak of human rights while signing trade deals with a state that bombs hospitals and restricts the movement of an entire population,” said Susan Abdallah, a member of the GSF Steering Committee. “This is the moment for moral clarity.”
The demonstration, which began at 8:30 am at the entrance to the EU Foreign Affairs Council, included workshops and panel discussions focusing on Europe’s role in financing “Israel’s” military operations, sustaining the blockade on Gaza, and supporting settlement expansion. Participants included Irish Member of Parliament Helen Mahony, who addressed the intersection of European investment and “Israel’s” military-industrial complex, as well as representatives from Colombia sharing lessons from alternative peace initiatives like Uniting for Peace (U4P).
Activists demand EU suspend 'Israel' deal and halt arms exports
Organizers presented a collective policy proposal to EU leaders calling for the suspension of the EU-“Israel” Association Agreement under Article 2, which requires respect for human rights as a condition of cooperation. The proposal also urged an end to all arms exports and dual-use technology transfers to “Israel" and recommended redirecting European funds toward Gaza reconstruction and initiatives promoting equality, accountability, and self-determination.
While campaigners framed the protest as a call for accountability, EU officials have previously defended the Association Agreement as a tool for dialogue and engagement, noting that human rights are embedded in its legal framework. In past statements, the European External Action Service highlighted ongoing political dialogue with “Israel” on these issues and emphasized support for a negotiated 'two-state" solution.
Observers note that the Luxembourg protest forms part of a broader wave of global mobilizations. Similar demonstrations have been reported across Europe and Latin America, reflecting growing international concern about “Israel’s” atrocities in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and the role of foreign governments in sustaining them through trade, military support, and funding.
The timing of the protest coincides with renewed debates in the European Parliament and member states over whether economic agreements with “Israel” should include stronger human rights conditions. Analysts say the outcome of the EU ministers’ review of the Association Agreement could signal Europe’s stance on accountability and its role in the Israeli-Palestinian struggle.
As the EU Foreign Affairs Council convened, demonstrators remained outside, holding signs, distributing literature, and engaging passersby to raise awareness of their demands. Organizers emphasized that their mobilization represents not just opposition to current policies, but a call for a long-term shift in European foreign policy toward greater alignment with international humanitarian standards.
