The European Union has cautioned Israel regarding the deteriorating famine situation in Gaza, where at least 101 Palestinians have died due to starvation. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stated on Tuesday that all options remain viable if Israel does not follow through on its promises to boost humanitarian aid for the besieged region. Kallas condemned Israel’s targeting of civilians attempting to obtain aid as “indefensible” and spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to stress the necessity of uninterrupted aid delivery and to urge a stop to the killing of people at distribution sites.
Following a recent EU meeting that assessed the organization’s relationship with Israel amid mounting criticism over its military actions in Gaza, Kallas reported that Israel had committed to enhancing the humanitarian situation. This commitment entailed increasing the volume of aid trucks, the availability of crossing points, and the pathways to distribution centers. However, despite this agreement, aid officials have not observed an increase in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The United States has announced that President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Europe this week to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. His itinerary may later extend to the Middle East for further discussions. Axios reported that Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and a senior Qatari envoy in Rome, potentially traveling to Doha at week’s end to finalize an agreement. According to the US State Department, Witkoff embarks on his journey with “a strong hope” for a new ceasefire and an improved humanitarian corridor.
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has established four aid distribution points in the south and central regions of Gaza. However, since the GHF commenced operations in late May, Israeli forces have reportedly killed over 1,000 Palestinians seeking food aid, primarily at or near the distribution sites. Amidst rising starvation-related deaths, with 101 reported fatalities, including 80 children, in the ongoing conflict, Israel denies fault for the food shortages, while the GHF disavows the UN’s casualty figures at their distribution points as “false and exaggerated.”
Qatar has been advocating for greater international pressure on Israel to reach a ceasefire with Hamas. Despite ongoing mediation efforts from the US, Qatar, and Egypt, reaching a resolution has proven elusive. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry official, Majed al-Ansari, criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and urged the US and international community to exert significant pressure to alter the current course and facilitate a ceasefire agreement.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/23/eu-warns-israel-as-trumps-envoy-heads-to-europe-for-gaza-truce-talks?traffic_source=rss
