EU pressured to act against Israel over Gaza
The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier this month announced a deal with Israel to allow more aid into Gaza as warnings mount over mass-starvation in the war-ravaged territory.
The bloc's diplomatic service on Wednesday gave a first briefing to ambassadors from the EU's 27 nations on Israel's efforts to improve access to Gaza.
'Israel has made some efforts on the basis of the agreed parameters, the number of trucks entering Gaza has increased, additional crossing points and routes have opened, and fuel supplies have increased,' said EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni.
'But the situation remains dire, clearly, a lot, a lot still needs to be done.'
But several diplomats said that a group of countries had demanded the EU move ahead with a list of options to punish Israel over Gaza to keep up pressure.
'A significant number of member states said the situation is intolerable,' an EU diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
An EU source said that, under the aid deal, Israel was supposed to let at least 160 trucks into Gaza daily, a figure far above current levels.
– Pushing for tougher line –
Kallas this month laid out a raft of steps that could be taken against Israel after it was found to have breached a cooperation agreement with the bloc on human rights grounds.
The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo and halting visa-free travel.
Some of the options could be initiated by the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, or the bloc's diplomatic arm.
So far, however, neither have been willing to push ahead with any of the moves amid divisions on how to tackle Israel.
Diplomats said Brussels had agreed to report back next week on any potential steps that could be taken.
The internal push came as dozens of former EU ambassadors also demanded the bloc take firmer action against Israel in an open letter.
The 27-nation EU has struggled for a unified line over the war in Gaza as it is split between countries that strongly back Israel and those favouring the Palestinians.
International criticism of Israel is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that 'mass starvation' is spreading.
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