Source: European Parliament
The European Council in March 2025[1] deplored the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and called for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement. It stressed the need for a ceasefire leading to the release of all hostages and a permanent end to hostilities.
The EU has been consistently calling for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza. The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) of the Commission, the Commissioner for the Mediterranean and the Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management called for the lifting of the blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza (statements of 12 April 2025[2] and 7 May 2025[3]).
Following the exchange at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May 2025, with the support of the majority of Member States, the HR/VP announced the review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement in view of the untenable humanitarian situation in Gaza.
This was discussed with Member States at the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June 2025 as well as the European Council on 26 June 2025. The Foreign Affairs Council will revisit the issue on 15 July 2025. It will be up to Member States to decide the next steps, if any.
The Commission has allocated EUR 170 million of humanitarian assistance for Gaza and the West Bank in 2025 so far. This brings the total support to over EUR 500 million since 2023 (EUR 102 million in 2023 and EUR 237 million in 2024).
The Commission continues its utmost efforts to ensure full compliance with IHL and advocate for unimpeded access for all its humanitarian partners.
- [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/viyhc2m4/20250320-european-council-conclusions-en.pdf.
- [2] https://north-africa-middle-east-gulf.ec.europa.eu/news/joint-statement-high-representative-kallas-and-commissioners-suica-and-lahbib-humanitarian-situation-2025-04-12_en.
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/de/statement_25_1155.