The European Commission has proposed suspending Israel’s access to EU funding for tech startups as pressure grows among the bloc to take a stronger stance over the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The suggestion to partially suspend Israel’s involvement in the Horizon research programme, which can be reversed, will be discussed by the EU’s 27 countries on Tuesday and will need the majority of member states to approve it to go into force.

The proposal comes as a reaction to a review of Israel’s compliance with the human rights clause of an agreement governing its relations with the EU.