Israel Criticizes EU Statement on Gaza as Unbalanced Amid Winter Crisis

The Council of the European Union voiced deep concern on Saturday regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The body stated that recent heavy rains and flooding have significantly worsened living conditions for a population already under stress. In its official statement, the council noted that the severe winter conditions are further aggravating the plight of residents who have been exhausted by the ongoing conflict.

The EU urged Israel to reopen all border crossings into the Gaza Strip. It called for immediate and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, along with support for large-scale distribution and early recovery efforts. Additionally, the council reaffirmed its commitment to a two-state solution. It also criticized the continued strikes by the Israel Defense Forces in the territory, despite the ceasefire that was announced in 2025.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded to the EU remarks on social media, describing the statement as completely unbalanced. The ministry argued that the European statement effectively rewards Hamas for its refusal to disarm, a requirement mandated by the Peace Plan. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry claimed that the EU ignored Hamas’s ongoing use of hospitals for terror operations and the diversion of humanitarian aid toward military infrastructure.

The dispute over the nature of the crisis follows new data released by the IDF on Friday. The military reconfirmed that adequate winter supplies are entering the Gaza Strip. It accused Hamas of being the primary obstacle to the area’s rehabilitation, stating that the group exploits humanitarian infrastructure and incoming aid. The IDF said that thousands of additional tents entered the Strip over the previous week.

According to the military, the total number of tents has risen to over 93,000 since the beginning of winter, up from more than 91,000 on Monday. The IDF also reported that hundreds of trucks carrying winter supplies entered the region during that same period. This increased the total number of supply trucks from 8,200 on Monday to over 8,600. Other vehicles carried medical equipment and medications to local hospitals and clinics.

The IDF highlighted specific medical items included in the shipments, such as dialysis fluids, defibrillators, incubators, ultrasound machines, and physiotherapy equipment. The military maintained that as long as Hamas does not disarm, the full rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip will not be possible. It emphasized that the group continues to exploit the winter supplies being brought into the enclave.

Earlier in the week, the Trump administration’s Board of Peace called on Israel to facilitate the entry of winterization and humanitarian supplies. The board criticized the insufficient progress in approving essential materials following severe flooding that affected tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians. It described the situation as an immediate humanitarian emergency rather than just a threat from approaching winter weather.

The Board of Peace emphasized the urgent need for shelter, sanitation, and drainage supplies to protect residents. In early November, heavy rains and winds battered the Gaza Strip, flooding displacement camps and damaging tents. Hamas reported on November 8 that approximately 70,000 tents were flooded within 12 hours. The group estimated the initial direct damage at around three million dollars.

Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defense stated that it received 2,166 distress calls since the storm began but was able to respond to only 218 of them. The following day, security officials noted that the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Gaza Board of Peace, and the United Nations had already transported various supplies to the enclave. These efforts included the delivery of 91,000 new tents, waterproof tarps, and 9,000 truckloads of clothing and blankets to offset the flood damage.