The Council of Europe calls on EU member states not to authorize the shipment of arms to Israel."The conflict in Gaza has reached disastrous proportions and continues to cause immense human suffering." For this reason, said Michael O'Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights of the EU Commission's advisory body,"I reiterate my call on Member States to do everything possible to prevent and address violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in the context of the conflict in Gaza." Among the various declinations of this principle, O'Flaherty continued, is"the application of existing legal standards to ensure that arms transfers are not authorized where there is a risk that they could be used to commit human rights violations." This is a general indication: the Council of Europe should not be confused with the European Council, which is the forum where the leaders of the 27 Member States define the Union's policies.

Another European-led appeal comes from Kaja Kallas."We call on the Israeli government to authorize all aid shipments from international NGOs and to allow essential humanitarian workers to carry out their activities. Immediate, permanent, and concrete measures must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access by the United Nations, international NGOs, and humanitarian partners," states a statement released by the EU High Representative and signed by EU and non-EU countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan."The famine in Gaza is spreading before our eyes," reads the appeal, also signed by Italy."The humanitarian situation requires urgent action, strengthening our humanitarian commitment to Gaza," reads a statement from the Foreign Ministry."In recent weeks, in various contacts with the Israeli government, Italy had urged an openness to aid and committed to redoubling its efforts to support the most vulnerable segments of the population in the Strip."

Meanwhile, the death toll in the Strip continues. At least 18 people have died in attacks launched today by the Israeli army, reports Al Jazeera. In the last 24 hours, at least 89 Palestinians, including 31 aid seekers, have been killed and 513 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, which also recorded"five deaths due to famine and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, including two children," bringing the total number of famine-related deaths recorded since October 7, 2023, to 227, including 103 children. The Nasser medical complex, the Qatari broadcaster also reports, also confirmed the death of Jamal Fadi al-Najjar, a 6-year-old boy who died of a disease caused by hunger in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave.

Tel Aviv, however, disputes the figures provided by the Gaza authorities. COGAT, the Defense Ministry agency that coordinates government activities in the territories, claims that Hamas has inflated the number of people who have died from malnutrition in Gaza. The organization has published a new report stating that"there is no sign of widespread malnutrition" in the Strip, challenging the United Nations, which for weeks has been warning of the risk of"widespread famine" and the presence of 300,000 children at risk of"acute malnutrition." COGAT says it conducted a " thorough review " of Hamas data and figures on deaths due to malnutrition, finding"a significant discrepancy" between the figures released by the Palestinian authorities and "documented cases, with full identifying details" in the media and on social media, which"raises doubts about their credibility." "A case-by-case analysis of the published deaths shows that the majority of the emaciated individuals suffered from pre-existing medical conditions that led to the deterioration of their health, regardless of their nutritional status."

Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, a Hamas delegation is in Cairo holding talks with Egyptian officials to repair relations. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar, with the help of Turkey, Sky News Arabia reports, have presented Hamas negotiators with a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza that would include an end to the war and the release of all hostages, both living and dead. The agreement also calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of the Israeli army"under Arab-American supervision" until an agreement is reached on Hamas's disarmament and withdrawal from the Gaza government. During this phase, Turkey and other mediators would ensure that Hamas freezes its military activities, allowing for talks to finally end the war.

If Hamas accepts the terms of the new proposal, it will be sent to American mediators for further transmission to Israel, Sky News Arabia reports, presenting the Egyptian and Qatari initiative as aimed at “taking away any excuse from Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza”.