The European Union will review its political and economic agreement with Israel because of the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday evening following a meeting of foreign ministers.

Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp led the initiative in a letter to Kallas two weeks ago, calling for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in what has been seen domestically as strongest criticism of Israel by the Dutch government since the bombardment of Gaza began.

The agreement covers areas ranging from political dialogue to agriculture and the free exchange of goods and the review will focus on whether Israel is complying with the agreement’s human rights clause, observers said.

Veldkamp said the Netherlands took the initiative because of deep concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. “We are grateful that enough member states support this step and that the high representative Kaja Kallas has decided to initiate the review of Article 2,” he said on social media.

The decision, he added, was a key European signal that Israel must fully lift the humanitarian blockade. “Meanwhile, we need to keep working towards a ceasefire, to get the hostages released, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need and bring an end to this terrible war.”

Israel has allowed a limited amount of aid into Gaza, but it is “a drop in the ocean”, Kallas said.”Aid must flow immediately without obstruction and at scale because this is what is needed.”

NOS correspondent Kysia Hekster said the review may appear a modest step, but is considered highly significant because the initiative came from the Netherlands, traditionally one of Israel’s most trusted allies.

“We have always said that Israel has the right to defend itself after the terrible attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023,” Veldkamp later told reporters. “But we have also always said that it should follow the humanitarian rules of war.”

Sixteen countries in total supported the Dutch proposal. It was opposed by Germany, Hungary, Italy and Greece, among others, broadcaster NOS said.

Last week, the head of war documentation institute Niod said Israel was using genocidal violence in Gaza.