All options on the table if Israel does not deliver on Gaza pledges, EU's Kallas says
"The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X, adding that she spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar "to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF must stop killing people at distribution points."
Earlier this month, Kallas said Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.
"All options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges," Kallas said.
On Monday, two dozen Western countries called for Israel to immediately end its war in Gaza and criticized what they described as "inhumane killing" of Palestinians, saying it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid.
Israel's foreign ministry called Monday's statement "disconnected from reality" and said it would send the wrong message to Hamas.
Gaza health officials have said more than 59,000 Palestinians have died during the 21-month conflict in Gaza.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Israel to open Gaza humanitarian corridors as aid drops begin
Israel has said it is prepared to establish humanitarian corridors to allow the transport of aid via UN convoys into a statement on Saturday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it would also allow the air drop of humanitarian aid to Gaza to first drops consisted of seven pallets containing flour, sugar and canned food provided by international organisations, it announcement comes amid growing international pressure on Israel to let more aid into Gaza, as aid organisations have warned of mass starvation in the enclave and reports of people starving to death. The IDF said it has "begun a series of actions aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, and was "prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas". It denied what it called "the false claim of deliberate starvation in the Gaza Strip", despite mounting evidence of starvation and UN, aid groups and some of Israel's allies have blamed the country for the crisis, calling for the unrestricted entry and delivery of aid into Gaza.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Israel says aid air drops will start in Gaza along with new humanitarian corridors for United Nations convoys
Israel 's military says airdrops of aid will begin Saturday night in Gaza, and humanitarian corridors will be established for United Nations convoys. The statement issued late Saturday came after increasing accounts of starvation-related deaths in Gaza following months of experts' warnings of famine. International criticism, including by close allies, has grown as several hundred Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid. The military's statement did not say when the humanitarian corridors for U.N. convoys would open, or where. It also said the military is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Starmer says plan to airdrop Gaza aid and evacuate ill children will go ahead
Keir Starmer has confirmed the government will be 'taking forward' plans to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children who need medical assistance in an effort to relieve what Downing Street called an appalling situation. Speaking to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Saturday morning, the prime minister outlined the UK's intentions to work with Jordan to carry out the plans. The three leaders agreed to work closely together on a plan to 'pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region'. A No 10 spokesperson said: 'The three leaders talked about the situation in Gaza, which they agreed is appalling, and emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need. 'The prime minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance. 'They all agreed it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace. 'They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan, building on their collaboration to date, which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region.' Global condemnation has been growing over Israel's blockade of most aid with reports of starvation and widespread malnutrition in Gaza. Health officials in the strip recorded 43 deaths from hunger over three days this week. There had previously been 68 in total. Médecins Sans Frontières said on Friday that the severe malnutrition rate among children aged under five at its Gaza City clinic had tripled in the last two weeks. The Guardian reported this week that skeletal children were filling hospital wards, and the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) said his frontline staff were fainting from hunger. The UK joined 27 other countries in issuing a joint statement earlier this week condemning Israel for depriving Palestinians of 'human dignity' as they issued a call for the immediate lifting of restrictions on the flow of aid and an end to the war in Gaza. They also described proposals by the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, an area that has been heavily damaged by Israeli bombing, as 'completely unacceptable'. The Israeli foreign ministry rejected the joint statement hours later, saying it was 'disconnected from reality'. David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, told Sky News on Wednesday: 'There is no famine in Gaza. There is a famine of the truth.' The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had agreed to let Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdrop aid into Gaza. Each flight carrying aid is far more expensive and holds fewer supplies than lorries do. The United Arab Emirates's foreign minister on Saturday said the country would resume aid drops over Gaza 'immediately' citing the 'critical' humanitarian situation. 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level,' sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a post on X. 'We will ensure essential aid reaches those most in need, whether through land, air or sea. Air drops are resuming once more, immediately.' Starmer is facing intense pressure from his most senior cabinet ministers and more than a third of MPs to move faster on recognising a Palestinian state. The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn, are among those understood to believe the government should take the lead on Palestinian statehood alongside France. The foreign secretary, David Lammy, faced questions on Monday from dozens of furious MPs across the house who called on the UK government to do more, including recognition of a Palestinian state. Kit Malthouse, a Conservative MP, said he was 'frankly astonished' by Lammy's statement 'at a time when we've got daily lynchings and expulsions on the West Bank [and] dozens being murdered as they beg for aid'. He said he was 'just beyond words really at [Lammy's] inaction, and frankly, complicity by inaction at what is going on', which he said carried the 'personal risk' of ending up at The Hague. Lammy said he understood 'the fury that [Malthouse] feels', to which Malthouse shouted back: 'Why don't you feel it?'
