International pressure is mounting on Israel amid its renewed military operation in the Gaza strip, as both the United Kingdom and the European Union announced measures distancing themselves from the country on Tuesday. The United Kingdom paused trade negotiations with Israel and sanctioned West Bank settlers, as Britain’s top diplomat slammed Israel’s operation in Gaza as “morally unjustifiable” and “wholly disproportionate.” Meanwhile, the European Union announced that it would review its relationship with Israel, with the EU’s foreign policy chief calling the situation on the ground in Gaza “catastrophic.”
The announcements came a day after the UK, France and Canada threatened to take “concrete actions,” including targeted sanctions, if Israel does not halt its fresh offensive and continues to block aid from entering Gaza. On Tuesday, however, the Israeli military vowed to “expand” its operations in the enclave.
Since May 5, Israel has been conducting a new offensive in Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying on Monday that his country plans to “take control of the entire Gaza Strip.” Hundreds have been killed and an Israeli blockade has meant that no aid entered the strip for 11 weeks until Monday, when five trucks were allowed in – a tiny fraction of the 500 trucks that authorities say are required each day to sustain the population.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “intolerable” on Tuesday, stressing that aid needs to enter the strip “at pace.”
Speaking to lawmakers on Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that the UK backed Israel’s right to defend itself after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, but said the conflict was “entering a dark new phase.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipura Hotovely, was summoned over the Israeli offensive in Gaza, as well as Israeli settler violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the British Foreign Office said in a statement.
Israel’s foreign ministry called the sanctions against the settlers “puzzling, unjustified, and particularly regrettable,” adding that “external pressure will not divert Israel from its path in the fight for its existence and security against enemies seeking its destruction.”
Shortly after the UK’s announcement, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, announced that the bloc would review its association agreement with Israel due to its blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The EU-Israel Association Agreement covers various forms of cooperation between the two parties, including political dialogue, the free movement of goods, and scientific collaboration.
Article two of the document outlines that “relations between the parties … shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.” A “strong majority” of EU members voted in favor of a review of article two in the agreement with Israel, Kallas said. “So, we will launch this exercise,” she said. “In the meantime, it is up to Israel to unblock the humanitarian aid.”
Israel slammed Kallas’ statement, saying it indicates a “misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing.” The foreign ministry accused the EU of “ignoring” an American-backed initiative to send aid to Gaza without it reaching Hamas, and Israel’s decision to facilitate the entry of some aid into the enclave.
On top of the ongoing military offensive in Gaza, Israel’s long blockade of aid has left one in five people in the enclave facing starvation as the entire territory edges closer to famine, according to the United Nations.
