The dire situation of the people in the Gaza Strip is causing growing criticism. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kallas issued a strong call for Israel to stop the killing of civilians. Hunger is also getting worse there.

Nearly 21 months after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory is catastrophic. In view of the suffering of the population, criticism of Israel is becoming increasingly loud, but there is no sign of the Israeli government giving in.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the images from Gaza"unbearable" and urged Israel to keep its promises."Civilians must not be targets. Never," she clarified.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas condemned the"killing of civilians" seeking aid at distribution centers as "unjustifiable." In a conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, she recalled the agreements on humanitarian access for aid organizations and emphasized that the Israeli army must stop killing people at distribution points.

If promises are not kept,"all options remain on the table," Kallas said without giving further details.

Israel speaks of Hamas's"campaign of lies"

The Israeli government brusquely rejected the criticism. Saar said of the conversation with Kallas:"I told her that Hamas is waging a campaign of lies," he explained on X."It is Hamas that is shooting and torturing civilians when they try to collect aid." The international community must not fall into the Islamist organization's trap, he warned.

At the end of May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by Israel and the United States, began its work after a months-long Israeli blockade of aid deliveries. It distributes food at a few distribution centers.

There are repeated reports of fatal incidents near GHF distribution points. The Israeli army is usually accused of firing shots. The GHF recently also accused Hamas of inciting unrest and causing panic among those waiting, which reportedly resulted in several deaths.

The UN Human Rights Office has now accused the Israeli military of killing at least 1,054 people near distribution points or aid convoys since the end of May.

"Horrified and disgusted"

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy says he is "appalled and disgusted" by the actions of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. Most Britons probably feel the same way, the Labour politician said on BBC television when asked what the scenes outside aid centers in the Gaza Strip had triggered in him.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his dismay at reports of attacks on United Nations buildings and called for protection from violence."These facilities are inviolable and must be protected without exception under international humanitarian law," the UN chief told the Security Council in New York.

Wadephul talks to his Israeli counterpart

According to a report by the Reuters news agency, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) spoke again on the phone with Israeli Foreign Minister Saar and also addressed the issues that 29 states had mentioned in a joint statement.

"In particular, the Foreign Minister expressed his deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to implement the agreement with the EU to facilitate humanitarian assistance," Reuters quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan (SPD) called for more pressure on Israel over its actions in the Gaza Strip. Germany should join the initiative of Western states calling for an immediate end to the war, she told the Rheinische Post newspaper."We need an immediate and lasting ceasefire now—not sometime in the future." Other SPD politicians also expressed increasing criticism.

Human Rights Commissioner warns of war crimes

In light of Israel's announcement of an expansion of its military operation in the center of the Gaza Strip, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned of serious violations of international law.

"Due to the high density of civilians in the region and the means and methods of warfare used by Israel to date, the risk of unlawful killings and further serious violations of international law is extremely high," he said.

With the recent evacuation orders issued by Israel, the population in the Gaza Strip has no choice but to flee to ever smaller areas where hundreds of thousands have already sought protection, Türk emphasized.

He warned Israel that any permanent expulsion of residents could amount to a war crime or even a crime against humanity.

Hunger also affects the helpers

Meanwhile, the head of what was once the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip pointed to the consequences of malnutrition in the Palestinian territory: In three clinics, 21 children had died of malnutrition and hunger in the past three days alone, said Mohammed Abu Salmija. He expects more deaths from starvation"at any time."

According to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other aid workers in the Gaza Strip are suffering from hunger and exhaustion to the point of fainting while on duty. Among those affected are doctors, nurses, and journalists, according to a statement released in Geneva.

UNRWA: Hundreds of trucks with relief supplies are ready

A spokeswoman for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) also spoke of exorbitant prices for medicines and hygiene products. One of the few remaining baby diapers now costs three dollars (around €2.60) each. The vast majority of parents cannot afford this and therefore have to resort to alternatives, such as plastic bags.