European nations are intensifying pressure on Israel to ease its ongoing military campaign in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged territory, where local rescuers reported fresh Israeli strikes killed dozens on Tuesday, including women and children.
While Israel stated that 93 aid trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday, the United Nations said much of the aid remained delayed and inaccessible due to logistical hurdles and Israeli restrictions.
The UN, which received clearance Monday to resume limited deliveries for the first time since Israel imposed a complete blockade on March 2, described the incoming aid as insufficient. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that 14,000 infants could die within 48 hours without immediate relief.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, confirmed that although trucks were allowed entry, operations were obstructed. One UN team reportedly waited hours for clearance to retrieve supplies, only to be denied access to their warehouse.
The humanitarian situation has provoked growing international condemnation. The European Union has announced it will review its trade cooperation agreement with Israel. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said a “strong majority” of member states support the move, citing the “untenable” conditions in Gaza and the urgent need to resume aid deliveries.
Sweden went further, saying it would advocate EU sanctions against Israeli ministers. The UK has also taken a firmer stance, suspending free-trade negotiations with Israel and imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized Israel’s actions, saying, “Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop.”
Israel rejected the criticism. Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said the EU’s response showed “a total misunderstanding of the complex reality” Israel is facing, and insisted that external pressure would not deter the country from defending its security.
According to COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry’s body overseeing civilian matters in Palestinian areas, Tuesday’s aid shipment included baby food, flour for bakeries, and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations intensified over the weekend. The army said it had hit more than 100 "terror targets" in Gaza within 24 hours. Civil defense officials in Gaza reported 44 deaths overnight, including women and children, citing strikes near the Nuseirat refugee camp and a school sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting a Hamas operative in a command center within the school compound, but gave no comment on other reported strikes. The attack near the petrol station reportedly killed 15 people.
“They are civilians, children who were sleeping. What was their fault?” one local, Mahmoud al-Louh, told AFP as he gathered remains at the blast site.
The current conflict was sparked by the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which has since led to months of intense military retaliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
