The EU prepares measures against Israel because of the “intolerable” situation in Gaza/ “All options are taken into account”

Several countries in the European Union have asked to act in the context of the “intolerable” humanitarian situation in Gaza, requesting “concrete measures”, AFP reports on Thursday. In a Wednesday meeting, the representatives of the 27 again expressed their concern about the effective application of the agreement concluded two weeks ago with Israel, on a better humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip, Agerpres reports.

In the context of lack of progress, several countries have asked the European Commission to present “concrete measures” against Israel after the possible “options” that they advanced to the discussions of the 27 Member States, according to these sources.

According to a European source, this agreement provides for the daily passage of about 160 trucks of humanitarian aid in Gaza, respectively double the current situation. On Thursday, Israeli authorities reported that about 70 trucks were downloaded on the previous day at the passage points.

Pressure on the Commission by Member Countries

“Israel made some efforts based on the agreed parameters, the number of trucks entering the Gaza, the passage points and the additional itineraries were opened, the fuel supply increased,” a spokesman for the EU diplomatic service on Thursday. However, “it is clear that there are a lot to do,” added Anoi anouar.

The ambassadors of the 27 are to discuss again next week at a new meeting. They intend to remain mobilized throughout August, despite the traditional summer vacation in Brussels, according to these diplomats. “A significant number of Member States said the situation is intolerable,” said one of them.

The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, reminded Tuesday that “all options are taken into account” if Israel does not respect its commitments. A report by the European Commission, presented at the end of June, estimates that Israel violated Article 2 of the Association Agreement with the EU in respect of human rights.

As a result, Kaja Kallas has prepared a list of possible options for the EU: suspending the entire association agreement, banning exports coming from occupied Palestinian territories, reviewing the visa policy or suspending the association agreement.

In an open letter, around 40 former EU ambassadors criticized Europe's lack of action against the “massacre” in Gaza. These former diplomats seek especially “targeted sanctions” against “ministers, officials, military commanders” and “violent Israeli colonists”, which they accuse of “war crimes”.

Deaths caused by malnutrition

Gaza has never been so hungry, and the situation seems to worsen, despite the warnings launched by locals and humanitarian organizations, the Guardian, Reuters and BBC write. In just three days of this week, the public health authorities in Gaza registered 43 deaths caused by hunger.

BBC quoted Palestinian officials on Tuesday, who said at least 113 people have died of hunger so far, of which 80 children, most of them in the last few weeks. However, the sanitary authorities said that many people die in their homes or tents, without the deaths being registered.

During this time, Israel blocks food transport for months. The total quantities allowed from the beginning of March are far below the rations needed to avoid hunger for the 2.1 million inhabitants, and the Palestinians are already weakened by the impact of the prolonged eating crisis and repeated relocation.

A decline to hunger

Israel has imposed a total siege on the gas starting March 2. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 19, he said the government was acting to prevent a food crisis.

However, the Israeli authorities allowed only minimal amounts of help, so the gase to hunger continued, only a little slower. Also, the Israeli government channeled all the help through an obscure organization supported by the US, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which manages four militarized distribution points.

Hundreds of people have been killed trying to get foods distributed in places that the Palestinians describe as “deadly traps”, which distributed supplies that cover only a fraction of the gase needs.