EU says humanitarian situation in Gaza remains 'very difficult' due to prolonged Israeli blockade

Speaking at the European Commission's press briefing, spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said the humanitarian impact on the ground remains severe and is further exacerbated by the cumulative effects of the blockade.

"There is partial progress in relation to the different parameters that we have set for humanitarian aid," Itkonen said, referring to recent reports on aid trucks, crossing points and fuel access.

"What we can say is that the situation, obviously, almost needless to say, the situation remains very very difficult in terms of impact on the ground and not least due to the accumulated effect on the blockade," she said.

The official emphasized that Israeli authorities still do not authorize access for EU personnel or aid trucks into Gaza, preventing the bloc from verifying the exact scope of aid deliveries.

"We do not have presence there. We do not have access there. So we rely on United Nations on this information ... Despite this partial progress, we are not where we would want to be in terms of the amount of trucks being able to make their way to the destination," she added.

Another European Commission spokesperson, Arianna Podesta, said the EU remains focused on supporting the civilian population and pushing to increase humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,000 people since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.