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The European Commission has from its flagship research and innovation framework, Horizon Europe, citing the ¡°rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip following the military intervention of Israel, the blockade of humanitarian aid and the violations of human rights¡±.

The suspension would see Israeli start-ups and small businesses blocked from participating in the European Innovation Council¡¯s Accelerator funding programme, which focuses on ¡°disruptive innovations and emerging technologies that have potential dual-use applications¡±. Israel associated to Horizon Europe in 2021.

, the commission said: ¡°While Israel has announced a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting and has met some of its commitments under the common understanding on humanitarian aid and access, the situation remains severe.¡±

On Tuesday, the UN-backed that the ¡°worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out¡± in Gaza, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access and an immediate ceasefire to alleviate ¡°catastrophic levels of human suffering¡±.?

The proposal follows a June review of the EU and Israel¡¯s association agreement, the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, the commission said, which found ¡°indications¡± that Israel had breached its human rights obligations.

On 28 July, the commission went further, stating, ¡°With its intervention in the Gaza Strip and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe, including thousands of civilian deaths and rapidly rising numbers of spreading extreme malnutrition specifically of children, Israel is violating human rights and humanitarian law and thus is in breach of an essential principle of the EU-Israel cooperation under the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement.¡±

The proposal will now be put to the Council of the European Union, and will require a ¡°qualified majority¡± to be adopted, meaning it must be supported by 55 per cent of member states as well as member states representing at least 65 per cent of the EU population.

Israel¡¯s foreign ministry called the proposed suspension ¡°mistaken, regrettable and unjustified¡± , saying it ¡°only serves to strengthen Hamas and therefore undermines the chances of reaching a ceasefire and a framework for the release of hostages¡±.

emily.dixon@timeshighereducation.com