Israel rejects a European Union decision to review the bloc’s cooperation deal in a bid to pressure Israel over its intensified offensive in Gaza.

Axar.az reports "We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing," Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein says in a message on X.

"This war was forced upon Israel by Hamas, and Hamas is the one responsible for its continuation. Ignoring these realities and criticising Israel only hardens Hamas’s position and encourages Hamas to stick to its guns. Hamas’s recent praise for such criticism is a clear indication of this and results in prolonging the war. We call on the EU to exert pressure where it belongs — on Hamas," he added.