Netherlands urges review of EU-Israel trade deal over ‘catastrophic’ Gaza aid block

Foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp tells top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas he believes Israel is in breach of rights obligations linked to trade agreement

The Dutch government, seen as one of Israel's most loyal allies in the European Union, is calling for an urgent review of the EU Israel association agreement, the basis for the EU-Israeli free trade agreement, the Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp told the Guardian.

Veldkamp described the Israeli ban on the supply of aid into Gaza as catastrophic, truly dismal" and in clear breach of international humanitarian law.