EU pressing Israel to improve Gaza humanitarian situation, top diplomat says

The European Union is seeking ways to put pressure on Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, its top diplomat says, as member states weighed action against Israel over what they see as potential human rights violations.

The EU’s diplomatic service on Thursday presented 10 options for political action against Israel after saying it found “indications” last month that Israel breached human rights obligations under a pact governing its ties with the bloc.

In a document prepared for EU member countries and seen by Reuters, the options included major steps such as suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement – which includes trade relations – and lesser steps such as suspending technical projects.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the options were prepared in response to member states that wanted stronger pressure on Israel to rectify the suffering of civilians in Gaza’s now 21-month-old war.

“Our aim is not to punish Israel in any way,” she says after meeting with Asian foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, amid growing global jitters arising from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive.

“Our aim is to really improve the situation on the ground (in Gaza), because the humanitarian situation is untenable.”

EU members have voiced concern over the large number of civilian casualties and mass displacement of Gaza’s inhabitants during Israel’s war against Hamas in the enclave, and alarm about restrictions on access for humanitarian aid.

Kallas said on Thursday Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.