EU’s top diplomat Kallas: Israel’s Gaza response ‘disproportionate’, affirms right to self-defense

The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Monday that Israel’s military actions in Gaza since Oct. 7 have been disproportionate to the Hamas terrorist attack.

She stressed that Israel has the right to self-defense, but said Israel has gone too far in its ongoing operations in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Serving as both the vice president of the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas’ remarks are consistent with prior statements from EU officials.

EU leaders have condemned Hamas’ actions, while emphasizing that Israel’s response has caused wide-scale destruction and thousands of civilian deaths.

Kallas further stated in a post on X that the EU is “stepping up” its “support to the Palestinian people,” and promised that the EU will be “a long-standing partner for the PA.”

Specifically, Kallas promised the EU will commit “€1.6 billion until 2027” to “help stabilise the West Bank and Gaza,” and will “invest in essential infrastructure while delivering humanitarian aid and support for refugees.”

Kallas, who resigned as Estonia’s Prime Minister in order to become the EU’s top diplomat, began her new role in December, and visited Israel in March.

During the trip, she stated that “we are witnessing a dangerous escalation,” which “is causing unbearable uncertainty for the hostages and their families and is likewise causing horror and death for the Palestinian people.”

Kallas also said that “resuming negotiations is the only way to put an end to the suffering on both sides.”

She further stressed that future governance in Gaza “must be agreed upon with Israel,” and that “Hamas should have no role in managing Gaza, as it poses a security concern for Israel.”