The EU must not wait till Israel starts executing Palestinians

It must review and cancel the EU-Israel Association Agreement immediately over Israeli violations of the human rights clause.Published On 20 Apr 2026Preparations for the implementation of Israel’s new death penalty law have already begun. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has boasted that a new prison wing is under construction where the killings will take place, and new “red” uniforms for the Palestinian prisoners have already been ordered.Meanwhile, the global “condemnations” have ceased. Like others, the European Union, which prides itself on high human rights standards, continues to look away. This is despite the fact that its Association Agreement with Israel has a clear clause that demands respect for human rights.Official reactions have been nothing short of disgraceful.When the bill was cleared by the National Security Committee of the Knesset late last month, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs, Anouar El Anouni, described the measure as “deeply concerning” and affirmed the bloc’s opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.Yet, in the same statement, the EU praised Israel’s supposed “previous principled position, with its obligations under international law, as well as its commitment to democratic principles”. It is as if Israel had never carried out a brutal decades-long occupation, illegal colonisation and genocidal campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The statement then “encouraged” Israel to meet the EU’s conditions on human rights under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.On March 30, just before the final vote on the bill, European countries, including the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern” about the bill, without warning of any concrete steps.