EU urges Israel not to ramp up military attack on Gaza

The EU called for restraint from Israel on Monday after the country’s security Cabinet approved an expanded military operation in Gaza.

“The European Union is concerned at the planned extension of the operation by Israeli forces in Gaza, which will result in further casualties and suffering for the Palestinian population. We urge Israel to exercise the utmost restraint,” European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during a press briefing Monday.

The Israeli plan reportedly includes capturing and occupying territory in the Gaza Strip, where it has been waging war against Hamas militants since October 2023.

Responding to a question from POLITICO on whether the EU is considering sanctions should Israel disregard its calls, El Anouni said: “I will not enter into any speculations on any foresight or any reactions that we might have. But our position is quite clear, and we will be re-calling it as much as necessary.

“We are not asking nicely, we are repeating our call,” he added.

The security Cabinet — an inner grouping within Israel’s broader Cabinet focusing on foreign and defense policy — also gave preliminary approval to resume humanitarian aid deliveries through private companies. The United Nations said the move would violate basic humanitarian principles and vowed not to cooperate.

The new military phase is reportedly set to begin following U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, scheduled for May 13-16. It comes despite repeated warnings from the U.N. that “serious violations” of international law have occurred in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 50,000 people in a retaliatory assault for Hamas’ violent attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

“We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation,’” Israel’s hard-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said during a conference on Monday, the Times of Israel reported.