EU to review Israel agreement as majority of member states call for action on Gaza

UN says 14,000 babies could die in Gaza within 48 hours without aid; Micheál Martin calls Israel’s blockade a 'sick joke'

A truck loaded with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip makes its way to the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel, in Israel-Gaza border, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

The European Union is to launch a review of the EU–Israel Association Agreement after a “clear majority” of EU countries backed the proposal, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has confirmed.

It comes amid a United Nations warning that 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours without aid.

Speaking after a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday, Ms Kallas said there had been “intensive” discussions on Gaza at the meeting.

“It is clear from today’s discussion that there is a strong majority in favour of a review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel. So we will launch this exercise,” Ms Kallas said.

Ms Kallas said the ongoing situation in Gaza is “catastrophic.” “The aid must flow without obstruction and at scale, because this is what’s needed,” she said.

It is understood that Ireland backed the proposal to review the agreement, alongside 16 other EU member states.

Children play around waste in front of the closed UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City, on May 20, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant movement Hamas. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

'A drop in the ocean'

Five trucks carrying aid, including baby food, entered the territory of more than two million Palestinians via the Kerem Shalom crossing on Monday. 

The UN called it a “welcome development” but said much more aid is needed to address the humanitarian crisis.

The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, spoke to the BBC about the dismal amount of aid Israel is letting into Gaza.

International pressure over a looming famine forced Benjamin Netanyahu to announce on Sunday night he would ease the devastating 11-week aid blockade to prevent a “starvation crisis” in Gaza — but only to a minimum level.

Mr Fletcher said five trucks of aid went into Gaza on Monday, but described this as a “drop in the ocean” and totally inadequate for the population’s needs.

Osama Abu Mosabbah, mourns his wife and two children who were killed in an Israeli army airstrike on the Gaza Strip, during their funeral at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

During the ceasefire, some 600 aid trucks entered Gaza each day.

He said the aid lorries, which contain baby food and nutrition, are technically in Gaza but have not reached civilians as they are just on the other side of the border.

Fletcher said 14,000 babies could die in 48 hours if aid does not reach them in time.

“I want to save as many as these 14,000 babies as we can in the next 48 hours,” he told the BBC.

Asked how the UN arrived at this figure, he responded: “We have strong teams on the ground — and of course many of them have been killed… we he still have lots of people on the ground — they’re at the medical centres, they’re at the schools... trying to assess needs.”

'A sick joke'

A protester holds a placard saying Stop Gaza Annihilation behind the Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin speaking to the media and reporters before today's cabinet meeting at Government Buildings. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Israeli government only permitting five aid trucks to enter Gaza is a "sick joke."

Mr Martin said he believed the people of the world are “sickened and absolutely disgusted” by the level of bombing and starvation of civilians in Gaza.

“This slaughter of the innocents must stop and there’s an onus on the world at large to very significantly pressurise Israel now to cease all hostilities in Gaza,” Mr Martin said.

“We need Hamas to release all of the hostages. We need a ceasefire and a pathway to reconstruction of Gaza. The weaponisation of aid is a war crime and that is what we are witnessing here in Gaza and it simply has to stop.”

Asked about the levels of aid allowed in by Israel, Mr Martin said that it is nowhere near the levels required.

I think five trucks instead of the 500 plus that we desperately need a day is a sick joke. I couldn’t believe yesterday the news that five trucks is allowed in.

“We know we need hundreds of trucks. I mean, people are starving.”

Mr Martin described the bypassing of the UN by the Israeli government as “reprehensible”. He said the UN has agencies within its remit that understand the situation in Gaza and are in a position to get aid into the strip quickly, to assist adults and children suffering from starvation.

“The UN agencies should have control of the distribution of aid into Gaza and to the people of Gaza. They’re experienced, they know how to do it.”