Sanchez urged the EU to suspend its cooperation deal with Israel<\/a>, pointing to\u00a0“the catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza.”<\/p>\n He added that “it makes no sense” that the bloc has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but\u00a0“in a double standard, is not even capable of suspending an association deal.”<\/p>\n In March this year, a United Nations-backed investigation said that Israel had\u00a0committed “genocidal acts” during the conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.<\/p>\n The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, said this had been done through the\u00a0systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Irish leader Michael Martin echoed calls for Israel to adhere to the human rights clauses of the EU-Israel Association Agreement<\/a> amid “the dire, catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.”<\/p>\n “I will be saying to my European colleagues that the people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure on Israel, and leverage on Israel, to stop this war in Gaza, to stop the continuing slaughter of children and innocent civilians,” he said.<\/p>\n He said, “The tactic of undermining those who would even question what is happening in Gaza also needs to stop.”<\/p>\n Both Spain and Ireland are among countries formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.<\/p>\nSpanish PM Pedro Sanchez called for the EU to review its association agreement with IsraelImage: Yves Herman\/REUTERS<\/p>\n