EU Foreign Policy Chief Urges End to Gaza Killings in Cairo

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called for an immediate end to the renewed fighting in Gaza during a visit to Egypt on Sunday, ahead of talks in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Kallas urged both sides to resume the truce, which had collapsed after Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations on Tuesday following stalled negotiations with Hamas over the next phase of the ceasefire.

“We strongly oppose Israel's resumption of hostilities, which has caused appalling loss of life in Gaza. The killing must stop. In any new war, both sides lose,” Kallas said at a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Cairo.

Kallas reiterated key demands: Hamas must release all hostages, Israel must fully reinstate humanitarian aid into Gaza, and negotiations should resume immediately. Her team later confirmed she had departed Egypt and arrived in Israel.

On Monday, Kallas is expected to push for the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement and emphasize the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

The UN described Gaza as facing a "nightmare" since Israel resumed military operations following a six-week ceasefire. Aid workers warned that the situation has worsened, exacerbated by Israel's decision earlier this month to cut off aid and electricity in response to the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations.

During her visit, Kallas is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and opposition leader Yair Lapid, but will not meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

In the occupied West Bank, Kallas will hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

As Israel and the U.S. seek to alter the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has rejected these changes, arguing they violate the original agreement. The first phase of the ceasefire allowed vital humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and facilitated the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel's bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza has claimed at least 50,021 lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with the UN confirming the reliability of these figures.