STORY: Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told reporters on Monday (June 23) he will ask the EU Council to approve an immediate suspension of a pact that governs the relationship between the European Union and Israel to protest against what he said were human rights violations in Gaza.

Under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which came into force in 2000, the EU and Israel agreed that their relationship "shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles".

The EU's diplomatic service said last Friday (June 20) there were indications that Israel had breached its human rights obligations under the terms of the pact.

Albares also said he would ask the council to approve an embargo on weapons sold to Israel and approve sanctions on individuals who are undermining the two-state solution.

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VIDEO SHOWS: SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, JOSE MANUEL ALBARES, ARRIVING FOR DOORSTOP INTERVIEW / SOUNDBITES FROM ALBARES

SHOTLIST ONLY, COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 23, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, JOSE MANUEL ALBARES, ARRIVING FOR DOORSTOP INTERVIEW

2. WHITE FLASH

3. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MANUEL ALBARES SAYING (English):

“The times of words and declarations is behind. We had enough time. And at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza have no more time to lose. Everyday. Everyday, babies, women, men are being killed. This is the time for action. And if the association agreement is based on human rights, it’s the most normal thing that we suspend immediately, today, that association agreement, and that we move forward. That's why I will ask for the suspension of the association agreement and embargo of selling weapons to Israel and enlarging the list of people that are being sanctioned to everyone that wants to be a spoiler of the two state solution.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MANUEL ALBARES SAYING (English):

“Europe must show courage. Courage in favour of peace. Courage in favour of international law. On all those things that are the ideas of Europe, because either that world, the world of the values that are at the centre of (the) European Union, is what we defend, or we allow others, the ones that think that only force and wars can forge the future to be the ones that are in the lead. So today is just the day to acknowledge what we all knew since many months ago: there are violations of human rights. But today is, above all, the day of action. Anything else would be a failure for (the) European Union.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. ALBARES LEAVING INTERVIEW