As Gaza faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 50 000 deaths reported by Palestinian health authorities and famine looming, the urgency of delivering life-saving aid has reached a critical peak. Yet humanitarian access remains constrained by logistical, political, and security obstacles. Since 2 March, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on humanitarian supplies, marking the longest uninterrupted siege Gaza has experienced. A limited resumption of aid truck entries announced on 19 May was welcomed, but as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has noted, it remains ‘a drop in the ocean.’ Over 3 000 aid trucks and approximately 130 000 metric tonnes of food remain stalled at border crossings, blocked in violation of international humanitarian law.
International frustration is mounting, even among Israel’s closest allies, with increasingly vocal criticism emerging over the scale and proportionality of Israeli operations. Following sustained calls for an end to the conflict, the European Union has now taken a substantive step by initiating a review of its Association Agreement with Israel. As unanimity will be difficult to achieve on this issue, partial suspension of certain elements – such as trade benefits or participation in Horizon Europe – is being considered, which would require a qualified majority vote. Advancing this review swiftly and decisively would send a clear signal: the EU is prepared to back its principles with action. It would not only increase pressure on the Israeli government to end its military campaign, but also reinforce the credibility of the EU’s commitment to international law.
The urgency of a functional aid delivery system is underscored by the failings of the current model, led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
In parallel, urgent action is needed to restore aid access for civilians in Gaza. During her trip in March to Israel and Palestine the European Union’s High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) Kaja Kallas proposed the most practical and actionable solution currently available: expanding the mandate of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) to assist in humanitarian aid distribution. This proposal must now move to the forefront of EU foreign policy. Reviving EUBAM Rafah with an enhanced mandate to ensure secure, coordinated and transparent aid delivery offers a lawful and operational pathway to immediate assistance. It leverages existing EU infrastructure and diplomatic relationships to deliver on-the-ground impact at a moment of critical need.
The urgency of a functional aid delivery system is underscored by the failings of the current model, led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, US-backed initiative. From the outset it has drawn criticism from the international community, including the EU, for its lack of transparency, its departure from humanitarian best practices, and the political nature of its origins. Since it was launched on 26 May, aid distribution has repeatedly broken down. Desperate crowds have overwhelmed food trucks, security contractors have lost control, looting has been reported, and Israeli soldiers have allegedly opened fire. Conditions at distribution sites, marked by long queues, barbed wire, and chaos, have only worsened the suffering.
In the most serious incident thus far, on Sunday 1 June the Red Cross confirmed that it had received the bodies of 21 people and treated 179 wounded, while Médecins Sans Frontières also reported casualties. Israel alleges interference by Hamas but has provided no verifiable evidence, all while continuing to block international media access to the Strip. The lack of independent verification only heightens concerns about accountability and the safety of aid distribution efforts.
Given these conditions, restoring unimpeded humanitarian access through trusted, internationally vetted mechanisms, such as those backed by the United Nations, is the only credible way forward. In light of Israel’s continued opposition to this approach and its reliance on controversial private contractors, an alternative solution could be a diplomatically coordinated humanitarian convoy. Facilitated via the Rafah crossing and backed by a coalition of European and Arab states, with UN support and an international media presence, such an initiative could offer a viable and peaceful means to break the blockade and deliver urgent assistance.
The Gulf states, leveraging their influence with the current US administration, can play a pivotal role.
However, the EU cannot lead this initiative in isolation. Success will depend on close coordination with the UN, as well as a significant political and financial commitment from Arab states, who so far have been vocal but largely inactive. Crucially this also involves Egypt, which controls access to the Rafah crossing. Egypt’s cooperation is indispensable for both border access and regional legitimacy. A secure aid distribution point at Rafah must be supplemented by diplomatic humanitarian convoys reaching deeper into Gaza, ensuring access for populations unable to travel or navigate overcrowded sites.
This effort will require international coordination, not only to guarantee fair distribution but also to prevent looting and violence. The Gulf states, leveraging their influence with the current US administration, can play a pivotal role. Although President Trump remains publicly committed to Israel, frustration is growing within his administration over the lack of progress on a ceasefire, and there is recognition of the catastrophic humanitarian toll. A convoy with broad international backing, from European, Arab and UN partners, would be harder to block – and harder to ignore.
With an established footprint and operational history in the region, EUBAM Rafah is uniquely positioned to anchor this initiative. The EU has both the capacity and the responsibility to lead.
Mass starvation and preventable death are not abstract risks – they are unfolding realities. The cost of inaction is not political inconvenience; it is human lives. The international community must act with urgency and resolve.
