EU tells Israel to 'stop killing people' at aid distribution points as UN says 1,000 killed since May
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the bloc also condemned any
attacks against the World Health Organization
(WHO) after the agency said its facilities in Gaza had been targeted by Israeli forces.
Kallas wrote on X that 'the killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible'.
'I spoke again with Gideon Saar to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF must stop killing people at distribution points,' she wrote.
The UN on said today that Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations.
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An officially private effort, the GHF began operations on 26 May after Israel halted supplies into the Gaza Strip for more than two months, sparking famine warnings.
The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles.
The European Union early this month said it had struck a deal with Israel to get more aid into Gaza.
Kallas laid out a series of actions that EU states could take against Israel unless the dire humanitarian situation improves.
'All options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges,' Kallas wrote in a post on X.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined the calls by saying 'civilians cannot be targets. Never.'
'The images from Gaza are unbearable,' von der Leyen wrote.
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'Civilians in Gaza have suffered too much, for too long. It must stop now. Israel must deliver on its pledges.'
EU officials have said there have been some improvements for aid access to Gaza, but that a lot more needs to be done.
'Channels are open and pressure is actually being put on the Israeli counterpart, so time is of the essence,' EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.
The spokesman also condemned attacks on 'any WHO premises or any hospitals' after the UN agency said Monday its facilities in Gaza had come under Israeli attack.
'Let's be clear: premises of WHO must not be attacked and must be protected,' he said.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Israeli military had entered the UN agency's staff residence, forced women and children to evacuate on foot, and handcuffed, stripped and interrogated male staff at gunpoint.

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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
EU-US trade deal live updates - 15 per cent tariffs agreed and trade war averted
Businesses across the country are sighing in relief after a 15 per cent import tariff deal was struck on most European Union goods between the US and EU. This is five per cent higher than the current rate, however, it is half of the 30 per cent that US President Donald Trump originally threatened. While it will take time for officials to work out the full impact of the deal, it is being widely welcomed as a bigger trade war has been averted. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said 15 per cent is 'not to be underestimated' but insisted 'it's the best we could get'. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted the deal is good for businesses, investors and consumers and will protect many jobs in Ireland. He said: 'The agreement achieved in Scotland between Presidents von der Leyen and Trump is very welcome. It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US – the biggest in the world." The biggest worry is for the pharmaceutical sector, which isn't included in the deal struck between President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. While there is currently zero per cent on EU pharmaceutical imports to the US, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke says future tariffs on the sector 'would not increase beyond 15 per cent'. Follow live updates below or check out the latest headlines on our homepage. 11:02 Ciara O'Loughlin The biggest worry is for the pharmaceutical sector, which isn't included in the deal struck between President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. While there is currently zero per cent on EU pharmaceutical imports to the US, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke says future tariffs on the sector 'would not increase beyond 15 per cent'. He told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: 'Pharmaceuticals are very complex. A lot of the product that is exported over to the US is not a complete product. 'Almost 70pc of it is components of the final product that will come together and that's why we do need to ensure that we have a very keen rate, to ensure we incentivise innovation in that sector, because that's so important for the global economy. 'We've about 100,000 employees in Ireland, 130 billion in exports in the life sciences sector, and the Government will be bringing forward a separate life sciences strategy later on this year, which will be key in continuing the investment and offering a very competitive proposition from Ireland's perspective.' 11:01 Ciara O'Loughlin Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted the deal is good for businesses, investors and consumers and will protect many jobs in Ireland. He said: 'The agreement achieved in Scotland between Presidents von der Leyen and Trump is very welcome. It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US – the biggest in the world." The Taoiseach added that the government will now study the details of the agreement "in the weeks and months ahead'. He added: ''It does mean that there will now be higher tariffs than there have been and this will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, making it more expensive and more challenging. 'However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship between the EU and the US, which is important not just for the EU and the US, but for the global economy. 'Given the very real risk that existed for escalation and for the imposition of punitively high tariffs, this news will be welcomed by many.'


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
In Quotes: Europe reacts to new trade deal with US
The US struck a framework trade agreement with the European Union, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods and averting a bigger trade war between the two allies that account for almost a third of global trade. Following are reactions from European leaders and trade ministers to the deal. Taoiseach Micheál Martin The agreement "brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US - the biggest in the world. "That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland." Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris "A deal provides a measure of much needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world. "While Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15% is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations for the EU-US trade relationship, which is essential for jobs, growth and investment." French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou "It is a sombre day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán "This is not an agreement ... Donald Trump ate [Ursula] von der Leyen for breakfast, this is what happened and we suspected this would happen as the US president is a heavyweight when it comes to negotiations while Madame President is featherweight." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "This agreement has succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-orientated German economy hard. "This applies in particular to the automotive industry, where the current tariffs of 27.5% will be almost halved to 15%." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "I consider it positive that there is an agreement, but if I don't see the details I am not able to judge it in the best way." Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan "Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan salutes that a trade agreement was reached it is a good omen," the government press office said. "...It eliminates present unclearness which caused disruptions and uncertainties in transatlantic trade relations." Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo "The agreement brings much-needed predictability to the global economy and Finnish companies. Work must continue to dismantle trade barriers. Only free transatlantic trade benefits both sides the most." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen "The trade conditions will not be as good as before, and it is not our choice, but a balance must be found that stabilises the situation and that both sides can live with."

The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Israel due to begin another 10-hour military 'pause' in Gaza as UN pushes for two-state talks
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago THE ISRAELI MILITARY will begin a second day of its daily 'tactical pause' in three areas of Gaza, in what it claims is an effort to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis. In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had launched a 'tactical suspension of military operations for humanitarian purposes' in al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City. The pause is scheduled to run from 10am (8am Irish time) to 8pm local time daily, until further notice. Despite the move, safety on the ground is far from guaranteed for Palestinians. An airstrike was reported in Gaza City yesterday in an area where Israel had announced a pause just an hour earlier. The IDF said it was unaware of the strike. The UN's aid chief, Tom Fletcher, noted some easing of movement restrictions since Israel agreed to expand humanitarian access for a week. However, he urged that the effort now needed to be 'sustained, vast and fast', pressing Israel to accelerate the approval of lorries at border crossings. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates carried out their first airdrops into Gaza in months yesterday, though officials stressed that air delivery is no substitute for consistent land access. Humanitarian aid was airdropped to Palestinians over northern Gaza. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again criticised the UN, accusing it of having 'no excuses left' for not delivering aid. He also rejected allegations that Israel is deliberately starving civilians, a potential war crime, calling such claims an 'egregious falsehood'. The UN said it would attempt to reach as many people as possible now that secure land routes have been announced. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported it has enough supplies in, or en route to, the region to feed Gaza's 2.1 million residents for almost three months. Advertisement The WFP says 62,000 tonnes of food per month are needed to meet the population's basic needs. Trucks carrying humanitarian aids line up to enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel said that 120 trucks of aid have been distributed in Gaza so far. UN Conference on Two-State Solution France and Saudi Arabia are leading a UN-backed initiative in New York this week aimed at reviving the push for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement last week that France will recognise the State of Palestine in September has added momentum to the three-day conference. Several other European nations are expected to follow suit. France's decision to recognise Palestine 'will breathe new life into a conference that seemed destined to irrelevance,' said Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. 'Macron's announcement changes the game. Other participants will be scrabbling to decide if they should also declare an intent to recognize Palestine,' Gowan said. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and officials from over 100 countries are expected to attend the New York conference. The conference will also focus on reforming the Palestinian Authority, disarming Hamas, and encouraging further Arab-Israeli normalisation. While no new peace deals are expected, French officials say Arab states will, for the first time, issue a joint condemnation of Hamas and call for its disarmament. Neither Israel nor the United States are participating in the talks. Despite 'tactical pauses' announced by Israel, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is expected to dominate speeches by representatives. Gowan said he expected 'very fierce criticism of Israel.' Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal