**EU Chief Slams Israel’s Strikes in Gaza, Demands End to Blockade**
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “unacceptable” and called for an end to the blockade that has left the enclave on the brink of catastrophe. The comments come as the death toll from Israeli strikes continues to rise, with Hamas’s health ministry reporting over 3,900 civilian deaths since March.
Kallas, who is the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, expressed concerns that Israel’s actions are “beyond what is needed to fight Hamas”. She also criticized the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which bypasses UN agencies and uses private security contractors to distribute aid. The EU does not support this model, with Kallas stating that humanitarian aid cannot be “weaponized”.
**Humanitarian Crisis Deepens**
The situation in Gaza is dire, with many Palestinians struggling to access basic necessities like food and water. The health ministry has reported that at least 54,000 deaths have occurred in Gaza since March, including the recent massacre of nine children from a Palestinian physician’s family. A school housing displaced families was also targeted overnight, killing at least 35 people.
The UN has warned that Gaza is on the brink of a catastrophic level of hunger, with its 2.1 million population facing severe food shortages due to Israel’s blockade. The blockade, which lasted for almost three months and was only eased last week, has left many Palestinians unable to access basic necessities.
**Global Pressure Mounts**
The EU is not alone in condemning Israel’s actions. The UK, France, and Canada have all made strong criticisms of Israel’s military offensive, with the UK announcing that it will suspend trade talks with Israel. The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has also described Israeli attacks on Gaza’s civil infrastructure as “abhorrent”, “disproportionate”, and “inhuman”.
**What’s Next?**
Kallas has promised to present options for action at the upcoming EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated plans to relocate Gaza’s population to a “sterile area” in the south of the territory, a move that many see as forcible.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, pressure is mounting on Israel and its allies to take action to prevent further humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
