EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell provided a stark update on the situation in Gaza during a press conference following the EU Council meeting in Brussels. He cited data from the World Health Organization and drew attention to the severe disruption in healthcare services across the territory, noting that a substantial portion of the hospital network had ceased functioning amid the ongoing crisis. The warning came as aid organizations struggle to reach injured and needful residents, and as the international community surveys the mounting humanitarian needs on the ground.
According to the official, several hospitals in Gaza have sustained significant damage in the fighting, with some buildings rendered unusable. He referenced international health authorities as reporting that roughly two dozen of Gaza’s 35 hospitals are no longer operating. The core reasons cited are shortages of fuel, clean water, and reliable electricity, factors that have crippled the ability to provide essential medical care to those in urgent need.
Borrell further described the daunting obstacles to delivering humanitarian relief to the region. He noted that while the European Union has increased its humanitarian assistance, raising the total to 100 million euros, real access remains a major bottleneck. Trucker convoys and aid convoys, he explained, face impediments at entry points, slowing or preventing aid from reaching the population that depends on it most. The situation underscores how logistical hurdles compound the medical crisis in Gaza, where hospitals are stretched beyond capacity and patients await life-saving support.
In his remarks, Borrell signaled that EU member states are pressing for an immediate humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip. He indicated that this demand would be articulated in a formal statement following an upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers from the EU’s member countries. The objective is to establish safe, predictable corridors for aid delivery and medical evacuations, alleviating some of the pressure on frontline hospitals and frontline medical staff who are operating under extreme strain.
Earlier conversations within the European Union focused on the urgency of safeguarding humanitarian access and protecting civilian lives amid continued hostilities. Borrell emphasized that while political support for the people of Gaza remains firm, practical steps must be taken to guarantee that aid reaches those in need without being hindered by ongoing security concerns or logistical barriers. He stressed that the EU is coordinating with international partners to explore every viable option to improve the flow of relief supplies, medical equipment, and fuel necessary to sustain hospitals already stretched to their limits.
On the political front, Borrell did not shy away from the broader implications of the conflict. He mentioned ongoing discussions with fellow EU leaders about what a sustainable and credible humanitarian framework might look like, and he suggested that coordinated actions by the union could help prevent further deterioration of civilian conditions. The exchange with member states, he noted, would include concrete measures designed to facilitate safe passage for aid and medical teams, while also maintaining accountability for humanitarian law and civilian protection amid ongoing hostilities.
In a separate but related update, the international community remains vigilant about the security dimensions surrounding the Gaza crisis. Statements from other European officials have highlighted the need for a measured response that prioritizes civilian protection, ensures rapid relief delivery, and preserves the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate independently of combat zones. Observers note that the coming days will be crucial as the EU weighs further steps to augment relief operations, tighten coordination with regional partners, and press for commitments that could ease the immediate pressures on Gaza’s healthcare system, including critical medical supplies and fuel resupply for hospitals that remain functional.
Netanyahu, in statements that followed the broader regional discourse, reaffirmed a firm stance against groups deemed responsible for the violence. The political signal from the Israeli leadership, while rooted in security considerations, also adds to the complexity of achieving humanitarian access on the ground. The international community continues to monitor the evolving situation with an emphasis on safeguarding civilian lives, ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of aid, and sustaining medical capacity in Gaza at a moment of acute distress.