• The EU will review its trade agreement with Israel due to the situation in Gaza.
• A strong majority of EU states support this move to pressure Israel amidst its military actions.
• Israel has rejected the EU's intentions, blaming Hamas for the continued conflict.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced a review of the EU's cooperation deal with Israel, commenting on the "catastrophic" situation in Gaza. Kallas stated that "a strong majority" of the EU foreign ministers favor this review during a meeting in Brussels, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza without obstruction due to the severe conditions faced by its residents. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also indicated strong support from 17 out of 27 EU member states for this initiative, pushing for action under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which mandates respect for human rights, according to Channel News Asia and TRT Global.

As diplomatic tensions rise, Israel has reacted vehemently against the EU's decision, with Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein stating that the EU's stance reflects a "total misunderstanding" of Israel's situation and blaming Hamas for the ongoing conflict. The review of the cooperation deal comes in the wake of Israel's intensified military operations in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 53,600 Palestinians. Kallas reiterated the necessity of reviewing the terms of the agreement in response to these humanitarian crises, according to AA, Channel News Asia, and TRT Global.

The move by the EU aligns with increasing pressures from several member states to re-examine their support for Israel amid allegations of human rights violations in Gaza. Notably, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot expressed concern about rights violations, stating that the review could lead to the suspension of the entire cooperation deal with Israel. However, Hungary has blocked efforts to impose additional sanctions on Israeli settlers, highlighting the divisions within the EU regarding this issue, according to TRT Global and AA.