Brussels: European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has urged Israel to take "more concrete steps" to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the EU will continue to monitor the implementation of agreed commitments with biweekly updates. Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas underscored the importance of the agreement's implementation, acknowledging both concerning and positive signs, such as the reopening of border crossings and increased truck deliveries.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kallas highlighted the repair of the electricity network as a positive development but insisted that the current situation remains untenable. She noted that EU teams are maintaining constant contact with international actors, Israel, and neighboring countries that control the crossing points. The EU has agreed to provide updates every two weeks through the PSC ambassadors to assess the on-ground situation continuously.
Kallas presented EU ministers with potential measures based on the EU-Israel partnership review from June, stating that these measures are ready to be enacted if Israel fails to meet its commitments. She reaffirmed that achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages is a priority for the EU. Kallas warned that EU member states are prepared to take further actions if the situation does not improve, emphasizing the readiness of an inventory of options.
During the meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz dismissed the likelihood of further EU actions against Israel, expressing confidence that EU member states would not adopt such measures. Meanwhile, Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne stressed the importance of biweekly monitoring and expressed concern over the current situation in Gaza, calling for concrete actions to leverage EU influence effectively.