Humanitarian alarms are ringing loudly from Gaza, and João Oliveira, representing The Left, has put a spotlight on what he calls Israel’s starvation tactic against Palestinians — describing it as a brutal form of aggression. Oliveira’s parliamentary question targets the European Commission, urging action to relieve the tens of thousands suffering from extreme food crises. This stark scenario directly impacts Palestinian civilians, especially vulnerable children, and triggers scrutiny from humanitarian organizations and EU policymakers.
Oliveira’s question to the Commission, submitted on July 15, 2025, presses for concrete measures against Israeli policies, asking how the EU plans to pressure Israel, ensure humanitarian aid delivery by UN bodies like UNRWA and the Red Crescent, and hold Israel accountable before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Commission’s reply, provided by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on November 28, 2025, outlines a multi-pronged response. It highlights an EU review signaling potential breaches by Israel of the EU-Israel Association Agreement’s Article 2, which deals with respect for human rights. The Commission has suspended bilateral support to Israel except aid to civil society and Yad Vashem. It emphasizes ongoing humanitarian aid exceeding €550 million since 2023 and endorses the ICJ's role in upholding international criminal justice.
Policy-wise, the response balances between increasing EU leverage over Israel through legal and financial tools, while prioritizing humanitarian aid involving UN agencies to alleviate immediate suffering. This reflects a cautious increase in EU supervisory strength in human rights compliance vis-à-vis Israel, alongside efforts to maintain humanitarian channels.
Stakeholder impacts vary: Palestinian civilians stand to benefit from bolstered EU humanitarian support and legal accountability claims; UN aid agencies gain EU collaboration capacity; Israel faces increased scrutiny and reduced EU financial ties; and EU institutions reaffirm their commitment to international law enforcement and humanitarian principles.
The Commission is expected to follow up with detailed implementation steps within weeks, signaling how firmly it will pursue the balance between diplomacy, humanitarian relief, and legal accountability in this complex conflict.