BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union (EU) is actively seeking updates from Israel regarding the implementation of a recent humanitarian aid agreement established to support Gaza, as stated by Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief. This announcement comes as foreign ministers from the EU's 27-member nations convene in Brussels on a Tuesday meeting, following the formation of the aid deal largely facilitated by Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Last week, Saar met with EU leaders after agreeing to allow critical food and fuel supplies into Gaza, a coastal enclave grappling with the aftermath of over 21 months of war. Kallas emphasized the importance of the execution of this agreement rather than merely having it documented, stating, "We have reached a common understanding with Israel to really improve the situation on the ground, but it’s not about the paper, but actually implementation of the paper."

She further remarked, “As long as it hasn’t really improved, then we haven’t all done enough,” and called for a ceasefire to stabilize the situation. The meeting was set to cover various other significant topics, including Iran's nuclear program, developments in Georgia and Moldova, and the EU's 18th package of sanctions on Russia, which is under negotiation among member states, with particular contention over the policy of capping oil prices to undermine Moscow’s energy revenues.

Increasing calls from European nations such as Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain to reevaluate the EU's relationship with Israel have been noted in the wake of ongoing hostilities in Gaza. A report by the European Commission indicated “indications” that Israel's actions in Gaza could be violating human rights obligations as outlined in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. However, there remains a division among the bloc concerning appropriate responses to these violations.

Caspar Veldkamp, the Dutch foreign minister, suggested that public pressure regarding Israel's actions facilitated the new humanitarian deal, even in the absence of a ceasefire. He expressed, “That force of the 27 EU member states is what I want to maintain now.” A European diplomat commented that the humanitarian deal represents a successful use of EU leverage in the context of the Association Agreement review.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manual Albares Bueno noted that discussions regarding the specifics of the humanitarian deal are ongoing, and the EU intends to monitor Israel’s compliance with the arrangement. He added, “We don’t know whether it will work. It’s very clear that this agreement is not the end – we have to stop the war.”

The conflict initially erupted after an attack by Hamas on Israel in 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals, most of whom were later released during previous ceasefires. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, with more than half of these casualties including women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas administration. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants; consequently, the United Nations and other international organizations regard its statistics as the most reliable indicators of wartime casualties.

While the EU has observed some aid trucks entering Gaza, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Hajda Lahbib stated that this is “not enough.” Lahbib emphasized the ongoing dangers and violence that continue to pose obstacles for humanitarian operations, vocalizing the urgent need for a ceasefire, “The situation is still so dangerous, so violent, with strikes continuing on the ground, that our humanitarian partners cannot operate. So, this is the reality we need to have a ceasefire.”