A European Commission review presented to member states in late June found “indications” that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza violates the human-rights clause of the EU–Israel Association Agreement, its main framework for political and trade relations. The finding triggered a debate within the 27-nation bloc over whether to curb preferential trade or impose other penalties. In early July diplomats drafted a menu of up to five punitive options, ranging from targeted sanctions and trade restrictions to a partial suspension of the accord or an arms embargo. Deep divisions among governments, however, meant no consensus was reached, and several capitals insisted that any leverage should first be used to secure humanitarian improvements on the ground. That approach produced a breakthrough on 10 July, when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced an agreement to expand aid deliveries to Gaza. Israel committed to sharply increasing the number of daily food and relief trucks, opening additional crossings in the enclave’s north and south, reopening supply routes through Egypt and Jordan, resuming fuel deliveries for humanitarian facilities and helping repair critical infrastructure such as water-desalination plants. The deal came as Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 52 deaths from Israeli strikes the same day, bringing the territory’s war-time death toll to more than 58,000, according to the local health ministry. Five days later, Kallas and EU aid chief Hadja Lahbib told ministers in Brussels that Israel had taken “some positive steps” but was not yet fully implementing the accord. EU governments requested detailed updates and warned they would “keep a close watch” and consider further action if concrete progress is not evident before foreign ministers meet again in two weeks.