Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has proposed that EU member states suspend political dialogue with Israel over its war in the Gaza Strip, an EU diplomatic source told dpa on Wednesday. Borrell is basing his proposal on assessments by independent international agencies that allege Israel has violated human rights and international humanitarian law in the Palestinian territory.

The EU has struggled to find a strong united position on the Gaza war, which was triggered by attacks by Hamas Palestinian militants on Israel on Oct. 7 last year. The bloc has called on Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and on both sides to respect international law.