
Egypt says Israel-EU agreement has not increased aid to Gaza
'Nothing has changed (on the ground),' Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told reporters ahead of the EU-Middle East meeting in Brussels on Monday.
The EU's top diplomat said on Thursday that the bloc and Israel agreed to improve Gaza's humanitarian situation, including increasing the number of aid trucks and opening crossing points and aid routes.
Asked what steps Israel has taken, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar referred to an understanding with the EU but did not provide details on implementation.
Asked if there were improvements after the agreement, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters that the situation in Gaza remains 'catastrophic.'
'There is a real catastrophe happening in Gaza resulting from the continuation of the Israeli siege,' he said.
Safadi said Israel allowed the entry of 40 to 50 trucks days ago from Jordan but that was 'far from being sufficient' for the besieged enclave.
EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ahead of Monday's meeting that there have been some signs of progress on Gaza aid but not enough improvement on the ground.
Israel's continued military operations and blockade have left the entire population of 2.3 million people in Gaza facing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million at risk of famine by the end of September, a joint United Nations report said last month.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Asharq Al-Awsat
38 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
France, UK and Germany Would Restore UN Sanctions on Iran Next Month without Progress on a Deal
The United Kingdom, France and Germany have agreed to restore tough UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August if there has been no concrete progress on a nuclear deal, two European diplomats said Tuesday. The three countries' ambassadors to the United Nations met Tuesday at Germany's UN Mission to discuss a possible Iranian deal and reimposing the sanctions. The matter also came up in a phone call Monday between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of the three countries, according to two US officials. The State Department said after the call that the four had spoken about 'ensuring Iran does not develop or obtain a nuclear weapon.' The officials and diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. The UK, France and Germany are part of an agreement reached with Iran in 2015 to rein in its nuclear program, from which President Donald Trump withdrew the US during his first term, insisting it wasn't tough enough. Under the accord that lifted economic penalties on Iran in exchange for restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program, a so-called 'snapback' provision allows one of the Western parties to reimpose UN sanctions if Tehran does not comply with its requirements. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters in Brussels Tuesday that the three European countries would be justified in reapplying sanctions. 'Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest,' Barrot said, according to Reuters. One of the diplomats confirmed his comments to The Associated Press. The diplomats did not provide details of the deal being sought. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in recent days that Tehran would accept a resumption of nuclear talks with the US if there were assurances of no more attacks, following Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities. He said there should be 'a firm guarantee that such actions will not be repeated, stressing that 'the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has made it more difficult and complicated to achieve a solution." The United States and Iran held several rounds of negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program before the Israeli strikes began in June. Trump and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said last week that talks would happen soon, but nothing has yet been scheduled. Araghchi, whose country insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, said in a July 2 CBS interview that 'the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.' Iran's UN Mission had no comment Tuesday on the threat of renewed sanctions if there is no deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said last week that the US airstrikes so badly damaged his country's nuclear facilities that Iranian authorities still have not been able to access them to survey the destruction. Iran has suspended cooperation with the IAEA.


Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Israel Strikes Damascus as Clashes Rage in Sweida
Israel launched airstrikes near Syria's Defense Ministry in Damascus on Wednesday, as fierce renewed clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups in Sweida province, shattering a brief ceasefire. Government forces and Druze factions resumed fighting in southern Sweida city Wednesday, with Syria's Defense Ministry claiming that armed groups violated Tuesday's ceasefire, forcing soldiers to return fire. Military operations continue across the Druze-majority province as the army asserts its actions strictly follow rules of engagement to protect residents and enable safe returns. Israel Expands Military Role Meanwhile, the Israeli army confirmed striking targets near the Syrian Defense Ministry entrance, following multiple airstrikes against government convoys in southern Syria since the Sweida clashes began. Israeli forces also bolstered their presence along the border with Syria. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Wednesday, 'The Israeli army will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area.' Katz threatened stronger responses soon if Damascus ignores the warning, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday that Israel feels a commitment to preserve southwestern Syria as a demilitarized border zone and an obligation to protect local Druze communities. The current violence originated in tit-for-tat attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze factions within Sweida. Government troops intervened but also clashed directly with Druze groups with reports now alleging that security forces committed extrajudicial killings, looting, and home burnings. Syria's Interior Ministry reported 30 deaths by Monday. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates over 250 fatalities by Wednesday morning, including civilians and 138 soldiers/security personnel; the monitor alleges at least 21 'field executions.' Druze Caught in Conflict Over half of the global Druze population, roughly one million people, live in Syria, with Israel considering its own Druze citizens a loyal minority, many serving in the military. Druze in Syria remain divided regarding the post-Assad government, with some seeking integration and others demanding autonomy. Israel maintains an aggressive stance towards Syria's current rulers, citing security concerns about Islamist militants near its borders. Since Bashar Assad's ouster ending the 14-year civil war, Israel seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone and conducted hundreds of strikes inside Syria. Short link : Post Views: 6

Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Hamas official denies progress in Gaza ceasefire talks
A senior Hamas official on Wednesday rejected claims of progress in Gaza ceasefire talks, adding the Palestinian militant group had not received maps planning for Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory. '(Israel) has not yet delivered any new or revised maps regarding military withdrawals from the Gaza Strip,' Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas political bureau, told AFP, accusing Israel of wanting to 'prolong military control' in Gaza for the long term. Developing