WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Governments are seeking guarantees that the terms of the EU-Israel aid agreement are being upheld.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said today that Israel needs to take additional steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as several European countries are looking for ways to verify compliance with the EU-Israel aid delivery agreement.
“We’re seeing some positive signs when it comes to border crossings, we see signs that power lines are being restored… water is being supplied, and more humanitarian aid trucks are arriving,” Kallas told reporters on her way to a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “But of course, we need to see more to witness real improvement for the people on the ground.”
Kallas was referring to an agreement Brussels reached last week, under which Israel committed to delivering more food, fuel, and other essentials into Gaza—where it has been waging war for nearly two years—as well as to opening more entry points.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters on Monday that the agreement is working and dismissed concerns over alleged killings of Palestinians at aid checkpoints in Gaza, blaming Hamas militants for redirecting aid.
Saar also predicted that EU foreign ministers would not take any punitive measures against Israel at Tuesday’s meeting.
Still, Kallas is expected to present a list of options for scaling down EU-Israel relations, ranging from suspension of trade agreements to reducing student exchange programs. These options come as a result of the EU’s review of its trade agreement with Israel, which found the country is not fulfilling its humanitarian obligations in Gaza.
However, several European diplomats told POLITICO that member states are unlikely to seriously push for activation of these options.
Nevertheless, ministers pledged to press for details of last week’s EU-Israel agreement and for mechanisms to verify its full implementation.
“I want to better understand what this agreement entails, and also what kind of monitoring mechanism the European Union will have to ensure its enforcement,” said Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
Albares also hinted that he may call for triggering one of the options Kallas has presented if Israel fails to meet its obligations.
“Spain’s voice will certainly be on the table to request concrete measures,” he added.
Kallas originally announced the humanitarian agreement last week, noting a “significant increase” in aid trucks, the opening of “more crossings” in Gaza, and the need for food to be distributed through bakeries and public kitchens. However, her statement lacked specific figures or implementation details.
An EU official speaking to POLITICO on condition of anonymity due to the unpublished nature of the agreement said on Monday that the deal envisions around 160 aid trucks entering Gaza daily and the opening of eight new entry points.
The official added that EU Special Envoy for the Middle East, Christopher Bigo, would be in charge of monitoring the agreement, and that the EU will seek information from agencies operating in Gaza, the United Nations, and the Israeli government.
