The situation in Gaza is one of many issues to be discussed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party) and his colleagues during Thursday's EU meeting.
Some tough decisions are not expected - but from several quarters, there are calls for tougher measures.
I will drive for the EU to immediately pause the association agreement with Israel. There is no sense in us introducing 18 sanction packages against Russia for the attack on Ukraine, but not being able to pause the agreement with Israel, says Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on his way into the meeting.
Want proposals
The EU's Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas noted on Monday that Israel, through its actions in Gaza, has broken the rules in the agreement to act with respect for human rights.
So far, however, she does not want to propose either a pause or a termination of the agreement, which regulates the EU's and Israel's political and economic cooperation. Instead, Kallas will discuss the issue with Israel, in the hope of putting pressure on the country to open up for more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
I hope it really gives results. If it doesn't, then we must consider what further measures we can take and I expect proposals for that already at the July meeting (for the EU's foreign ministers on July 15), said Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (The Moderate Party) at a press conference during the NATO summit in The Hague earlier in the week.
”Should have done more”
Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob is clear that his country is willing to proceed on its own against Israel if the EU cannot agree on tougher measures.
Unfortunately, some important member states put their own interests first, instead of the Palestinians' human rights. We should have done much more earlier - but it's never too late, says Golob in Brussels.
No decision is expected at the EU summit, but only a call to the foreign ministers to continue driving the issue.
The EU countries' heads of state and government are holding a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss, above all, support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, defense issues, and "geo-economics".
The meeting begins with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj speaking to the leaders via video link.
The meeting is planned to be completed during Thursday, but may possibly also continue on Friday.
