War in Gaza a graveyard for humanitarian law, top EU diplomat says

The war in Gaza has become a "graveyard for many of the most important principles of humanitarian law," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday.

The European Union's top diplomat described the conflict in the Gaza strip as "the greatest open air graveyard" in reference to civilian casualties among the Palestinian population.

EU foreign ministers are in Brussels to discuss the Israel-Hamas war with sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank to be decided after the increased violence towards Palestinians in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Borrell said EU foreign ministers would also debate the bloc's association agreement with Israel but stressed that it was too early in the process to discuss suspending the agreement.

More sanctions on the Palestinian Islamist militant group are also expected, Borrell said. He also urged EU countries to take action over Israeli obstacles to humanitarian aid access in Gaza.

Germany, as "friends of Israel," has made clear to the Israeli government that humanitarian aid in Gaza must be allowed to be delivered, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

"The millions of people in Gaza, many, many children who have not had enough food for weeks," need to be cared for, Baerbock said.

"The suffering is simply unbearable," Baerbock said, adding that Germany and the EU are working every day to secure a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.