Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice president of the European Commission talks to journalists before the EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on July 14, 2025.
Nicolas Tucat / AFP
Israel has so far succeeded in forming a “blocking coalition” to prevent the EU from imposing fresh sanctions.
The European Union insists that it doesn’t want to “punish” Israel over its fight against Hamas terrorists, yet it appears to be on the edge of its seat waiting for an opportune moment to break all ties.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon following a meeting between European foreign ministers, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said “we see positive signs” on increased humanitarian aid access to Gaza, as per an EU-Israel deal struck last week. She pointed in particular to there being more trucks and supplies entering Gaza, as well as to the repairing of electricity supply points.
Then came the inevitable “but”:
Israel needs to take more concrete steps to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground.
The European Union will keep a close watch on how Israel implements this common understanding.
Kallas then threatened potential retaliation options that are “on the table” and stressed: “The situation is still untenable.”
Some are, of course, frustrated that Brussels hasn’t already bashed Israel with firmer measures. Amnesty International secretary general Agnes Callamard described the bloc’s refusal to suspend its cooperation agreement with Israel altogether as “a cruel and unlawful betrayal” of the “European project and vision.”
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported that none of the anti-Israeli proposals raised during the meeting of foreign ministers secured the required amount of support because Israeli officials have spent recent weeks working with more friendly European leaders to form a “blocking coalition.”
מועצת שרי החוץ של האיחוד האירופי סיימה את ישיבתה בנושא המצב בעזה ללא קבלת החלטה על סנקציות כלשהן נגד ישראל. בכירים ישראלים אמרו כי אף אחת מההצעות שהועלו לא זכתה לרוב הדרוש. בשבועיים האחרונים שר החוץ גדעון סער ומשרד החוץ פעלו מול מדינות אירופה בנסיון לבלום מהלכים נגד ישראל במועצת…
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
