EU High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas underlined the European Union’s growing unease over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, stating that the situation “cannot be overshadowed” by other regional crises.

In a forceful address to the European Parliament during a joint debate on the Middle East, nearly 20 months after the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, triggered by the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023, Kallas stressed that “the continuing deaths of civilians and the targeting of civilian infrastructure go beyond self-defence.”

She emphasized that “Israel’s actions cannot be justified under humanitarian and international law.”

Kallas announced that a formal review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is now underway. Article 2 commits both parties to respect human rights—an obligation many EU Member States believe Israel is failing to uphold. The review process, initiated after discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council in May, is expected to yield initial findings next Monday, when Kallas presents the outcome to EU Foreign Ministers.

Kallas noted that the EU has pledged €170 million in humanitarian assistance for 2024, and since October last year, it has facilitated the delivery of nearly 5,000 tonnes of aid to the besieged enclave.

However, she painted a grim picture of the humanitarian situation. “Three warehouses were recently opened in Gaza, but only one is now accepting new deliveries,” she said. “The world is desperate to help. The amount of aid is not the problem. The access is.”

Kallas revealed ongoing communication with the Israeli Foreign Minister, urging Israel to allow uninterrupted aid delivery and to resume a ceasefire.

“The answer to aid being weaponised is not to block it but to flood the region with so much it cannot be misused,” she argued.

Critically, Kallas cast doubt on Israel’s current military strategy in Gaza, saying it “has not resulted in the liberation of hostages” and has “endangered the entire population of Gaza, causing unjustified human suffering.”

“The European Union must do everything we can to push for diplomacy, meet humanitarian needs where we can, and stand up for the values we were built on”, she concluded.