BRUSSELS, July 22 — All options are on the table if Israel does not deliver on its pledges to facilitate humanitarian aid in Palestine’s Gaza, the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said today.
“The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible,” the EU foreign policy head posted on X, adding that she spoke with Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar “to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF (Israel Defence Forces) must stop killing people at distribution points”.
Earlier this month, Kallas said Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.
“All options remain on the table if Israel doesn’t deliver on its pledges,” Kallas said.
Yesterday, two dozen Western countries called for Israel to immediately end its war in Gaza and criticised what they called the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians, saying it is “horrifying” that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called yesterday’s statement “disconnected from reality” and said it would send the wrong message to Hamas.
The war began when Hamas militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Palestine health officials have said more than 59,000 Palestinians have died during the 21-month conflict in Gaza.
— Reuters
