EU calls on Israel to fully implement Gaza aid deal
The European Union and Israel have reached an agreement to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas announced on Friday.
Revealed during a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, the agreement sets out a significant rise in daily truck shipments of food and essential supplies. It also includes reopening additional border crossings and reactivating overland aid routes through Jordan and Egypt.
These measures are expected to be put into effect in the coming days, accompanied by monitoring systems designed to ensure assistance does not reach Hamas.
The agreement comes after weeks of internal EU discussions about potential pressure tools should talks with Israel fail to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Diplomats in Brussels, cited by German news agency DPA, confirmed that Kallas had previously shared a list of proposed actions with member states.
Prepared following a June meeting of EU foreign ministers, the list detailed a range of options including suspending trade benefits, imposing an arms embargo, and blocking Israel's participation in the EU's Horizon research funding program.
Additionally, it proposed tighter entry conditions for Israeli nationals and sanctions targeting officials deemed responsible for Gaza's humanitarian situation. The EU-Israel air transport agreement, which allows open market access for direct flights, was also identified as a potential leverage point.
Notably, these discussions were supported by an internal EU review that found Israeli military operations in Gaza breached
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The Mauritanian Islamic Forum donates one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) to Hamas (Image: December 26, 2024) This report reviews Hamas's continued fundraising efforts in Mauritania. Hamas: Mauritanian President Ghazouani Is One Of Our "Partners In Victory" As stated, Mauritania under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani maintains direct ties with Hamas. For example, in June 2021 a Hamas delegation headed by then-head of the movement's political bureau, Ismail Haniya, made an official visit to the country and met with President Ghazouani. The delegation also included other senior Hamas officials, such as Moussa Abu Marzouq, Khalil Al-Haya, Izzat Al-Rishq, Taher Al-Nounou and Sami Abu Zuhri. 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The event was held to thank and praise the Mauritanian donors, and a banner behind the speakers' podium, captioned "Partners in Victory," featured an image of President Ghazouani.[7] Banner at Hamas event in Nouakchott features a portrait of Mauritanian President Ghazouani and the caption "Partners in Victory" (Image: March 12, 2025) Hamas Representative: The Mauritanian Fundraising Efforts Are A Form Of "Jihad"; This Money Has A Part In "Every Explosive Device, Every Bomb, Every Bullet And Every Tunnel" Used By Hamas An event held by Hamas's representation in Mauritania several weeks before this, on February 8, 2025, was also intended to thank the Mauritanian people for their support of the "resistance." The event was attended by Hamas's representative in the country, Muhammad Abu Saqer, and by representatives of the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People, two organizations involved in fundraising for Hamas. 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The following are examples from the recent months: The "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" Organization In January 2025 the Ijman tribe presented this organization, headed by Sheikhani Bibb, with a check for 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) "for supporting Gaza" and "aiding the Palestinian people."[11] The Ijman tribe hands over 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization as "aid for Gaza" (Image: January 11, 2025) That same month, the Tanadgha tribe raised $2.2 million "for the Palestinian people" via a Whatsapp group and delivered it to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization. The Tanadgha tribe donates $2.2 million "to the Palestinian people" in cooperation with the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization (Image: January 8, 2025) On February 24, 2025 this organization committed to rebuilding 100 housing units in the Gaza Strip, at a total cost of $400,000.[12] The Mauritanian Islamic Forum In November 2024 the Mauritanian Kunta tribe provided 20 million ouguiyas ($500,000) to the Hamas representative, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Islamic Forum, "for the benefit of the people of Gaza and as further aid for the resistance [i.e., Hamas' military wing]." 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Shafaq News - Brussels The European Union and Israel have reached an agreement to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas announced on Friday. Revealed during a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, the agreement sets out a significant rise in daily truck shipments of food and essential supplies. It also includes reopening additional border crossings and reactivating overland aid routes through Jordan and Egypt. These measures are expected to be put into effect in the coming days, accompanied by monitoring systems designed to ensure assistance does not reach Hamas. The agreement comes after weeks of internal EU discussions about potential pressure tools should talks with Israel fail to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Diplomats in Brussels, cited by German news agency DPA, confirmed that Kallas had previously shared a list of proposed actions with member states. Prepared following a June meeting of EU foreign ministers, the list detailed a range of options including suspending trade benefits, imposing an arms embargo, and blocking Israel's participation in the EU's Horizon research funding program. Additionally, it proposed tighter entry conditions for Israeli nationals and sanctions targeting officials deemed responsible for Gaza's humanitarian situation. The EU-Israel air transport agreement, which allows open market access for direct flights, was also identified as a potential leverage point. Notably, these discussions were supported by an internal EU review that found Israeli military operations in Gaza breached
