EU Warns Israel as Trump’s special Envoy Heads to Europe for Gaza Truce Talks

The European Union has issued a stern warning to Israel over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, where at least 101 Palestinians—many of them children—have now died from starvation.

The warning came from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday. She said that "all options remain on the table" if Israel fails to follow through on its promises to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Posting on X, Kallas called Israel’s actions “indefensible,” especially the killing of civilians trying to collect food aid. She said she had spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, stressing that Israeli forces must stop targeting people at aid distribution sites and must ensure the promised increase in aid deliveries.

Earlier this month, Israel reportedly agreed to expand humanitarian access into Gaza—pledging more aid trucks, additional border crossings, and improved access to distribution sites. But aid workers say little has changed on the ground, and supplies remain dangerously limited.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced that Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Europe this week to help negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. According to Axios, Witkoff will meet with Israeli Minister Ron Dermer and a senior Qatari official in Rome on Thursday. If those talks make progress, Witkoff may continue to Doha, Qatar, later in the week to push for a final agreement.

A US State Department spokesperson said there is “strong hope” for a new truce and a secure aid corridor into Gaza but emphasized the situation remains unpredictable.

Since March, Israel has largely blocked goods from entering Gaza. Some aid has trickled in since May, primarily through the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates four distribution points in southern and central Gaza. But the UN reports that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to access food at or near these sites since GHF operations began in late May.

GHF disputes the UN’s numbers, calling them “false and exaggerated.” Israel also denies being responsible for the severe food shortages.

The hunger crisis continues to escalate. Of the 101 confirmed starvation deaths since the war began, 80 were children. Most have occurred in recent weeks—15 just on Tuesday, including four children.