DaysofPal-At the conclusion of their summit held in Brussels, European Union leaders issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The statement warned of an imminent famine threatening millions of civilians and called for an immediate and full lifting of the Israeli blockade.
The EU declared its “deep concern over the severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” highlighting the growing risk of famine and the mounting civilian death toll, including women and children.
The European leaders urged an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as a first step to halt the bloodshed. They emphasized that ongoing military operations were exacerbating civilian suffering and posed a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The statement warned that Gaza was “on the brink of famine,” noting that more than 2.2 million Palestinians are living under conditions of “acute food insecurity” due to severe restrictions on the entry of essential goods and humanitarian aid.
“Each day of delay in delivering food, water, and medicine deepens the crisis and threatens a total collapse of humanitarian infrastructure in the Strip,” the leaders said.
The EU called on the Israeli occupation to lift the blockade immediately and completely, allowing humanitarian aid through all land and sea crossings, and granting UN agencies and humanitarian organizations free and safe access to carry out their work.
The statement also noted that alternative attempts by some countries to deliver aid—such as maritime routes or airdrops—have been inadequate and, in some cases, resulted in civilian casualties due to technical failures and poor coordination.
In a rare diplomatic move, EU leaders revealed they had discussed the possibility of suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Article 2, which requires both parties to respect human rights as a core condition of the agreement.
The European Council announced it would conduct a formal review in July 2025 to assess Israel’s compliance with these principles, potentially paving the way for economic or diplomatic measures.
The EU also condemned the targeting of civilians, hospitals, schools, and UN facilities in Gaza, stating that the use of excessive force in civilian areas constitutes a clear violation of international law.
The statement stressed that using food as a tool of political pressure against a besieged civilian population is a war crime, and called for independent international investigations to hold perpetrators accountable.
This statement comes amid growing global criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza, with increasing accusations of using starvation as a weapon of war and a means of forced displacement—acts described in UN reports as amounting to genocide.
The EU’s bold stance is expected to draw sharp reactions from the Israeli occupation, especially as the bloc considers taking tangible economic and diplomatic actions in the coming weeks.
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