Brussels – The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, sharply criticized Israel on Wednesday, labeling its renewed military campaign in Gaza as “unacceptable” amid mounting civilian casualties. Speaking to reporters in Brussels after a tense phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Kallas underscored the EU’s growing frustration with the escalating conflict. The remarks, delivered on March 19, 2025, came as Kallas attended the weekly College of Commissioners meeting at EU headquarters.
“I told Foreign Minister Sa’ar yesterday—what is happening, why are you doing this? I conveyed the message that this is unacceptable,” said Kallas, the EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Estonian diplomat singled out “the loss of civilian lives” as a key concern, reflecting broader EU alarm over the humanitarian toll of Israel’s operations. She announced plans to travel to Egypt on Sunday to meet with the “Arab Quint”—Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Israel.
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Israel, however, defended its actions. According to an Israeli readout of the call, Sa’ar told Kallas that the country “has no choice” but to resume fighting, blaming Hamas for rejecting ceasefire proposals brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on two occasions. Sa’ar stressed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are targeting “solely Hamas and terrorist targets” while striving to limit civilian harm.
The exchange coincided with a joint EU statement released Tuesday, signed by Kallas and other commissioners, which condemned the ceasefire’s collapse and civilian deaths, including children, in Israeli airstrikes. “The EU deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza,” the statement read, urging Israel to halt its campaign and Hamas to free all hostages. It concluded, “The EU believes that the resumption of negotiations is the only way forward,” signaling a push for de-escalation as tensions flare anew in the region.
Key Points: EU Condemns Israel’s Renewed Gaza Campaign
- EU Criticism: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza “unacceptable,” highlighting civilian deaths in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on March 18, 2025.
- Diplomatic Moves: Kallas plans to meet the “Arab Quint” (Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) in Egypt on Sunday to increase pressure on Israel.
- Israel’s Defense: Sa’ar told Kallas that Israel resumed fighting after Hamas rejected ceasefire proposals from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff twice, claiming IDF actions target only Hamas while minimizing civilian harm.
- EU Statement: A joint EU declaration on March 18 deplored the ceasefire’s collapse, condemned civilian casualties in Israeli airstrikes, and called for Israel to stop the campaign and Hamas to release hostages.
- Push for Talks: The EU insists negotiations are the only solution to the conflict, as stated by Kallas and commissioners.
