European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Israel’s “appalling” wave of deadly airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including a school used as a shelter.
In a phone call with King Abdullah of Jordan, von der Leyen expressed her deep concern over Israel’s renewed military offensive, which reportedly aims to dismantle Hamas – a group designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union.
“The expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, targeting civilian infrastructure – including a school sheltering displaced families – and the killing of civilians, including children, is appalling,” she stated, according to an official EU statement.
According to rescue teams, at least 52 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Monday, with 33 of them perishing in an attack on a school-turned-shelter. The strikes are part of Israel’s resumed offensive in Gaza, which has triggered mounting international criticism.
While reaffirming the EU’s support for Israel’s right to security and self-defense, von der Leyen cautioned that “escalation and the disproportionate use of force against civilians cannot be justified under international and humanitarian law.”
She urged Israel to immediately resume the delivery of humanitarian aid, aligned with international humanitarian principles, and in cooperation with the United Nations and other global relief partners.
The European Union has long struggled to exert significant influence over the Gaza conflict, due to internal divisions between member states supportive of Israel and those perceived as more pro-Palestinian. However, momentum for increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel has grown since the latest offensive began.
The current war in Gaza erupted when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and taking 251 hostages. While some have since been released in ceasefire deals, dozens remain captive.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has devastated much of Gaza and killed over 55,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its casualty reports.
