Gaza: Agencies

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since dawn on Sunday has risen to 21 Palestinians, according to media reports citing the Middle East News Agency on Sunday.
The Palestinian News Agency "Wafa" quoted the ministry as saying in a statement today, "Eight Palestinians were martyred in the occupation's shelling of Jabalia al-Balad, north of the Gaza Strip. Medical crews also recovered the bodies of two martyrs following the occupation's shelling of the Ma'an area, east of Khan Yunis."
The ministry noted that five citizens, including two girls, were killed in an Israeli drone strike on displaced persons' tents in Mawasi, Khan Yunis. A girl also succumbed to wounds she sustained in a previous Israeli shelling of Khan Yunis. Four citizens were also killed and 70 others were injured by Israeli army fire near an aid center west of Rafah. In the central Gaza Strip, a citizen was killed and others were injured by Israeli fire near an aid distribution center at the so-called "Netzarim axis." The Israeli army also blew up civilian homes and facilities in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, and east of Gaza City.
The ministry explained that the fuel supplies in Gaza hospitals are only sufficient for two days, and that the injured are facing difficulty reaching hospitals in southern Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said yesterday that "the aid distribution model in the Gaza Strip is ineffective and tantamount to inviting people to their deaths."
This came after the American magazine "Politico" reported on Saturday that the European Union is expected to formally accuse Israel of violating international law and human rights standards due to its military operations in Gaza.
According to the magazine, European Council President António Costa indicated that the ongoing EU review of Israel's conduct in Gaza is likely to find violations of international law and human rights.
He added: "The situation in Gaza is completely unacceptable, but by watching television and reading the newspapers, I think it's not difficult to predict what conclusion they will reach," according to the Cairo-based Youm7 website, adding, "This review is being conducted by the European External Action Service, which is currently re-evaluating the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel. This agreement conditions cooperation on mutual respect for human rights and democratic principles, classifying them as essential elements of this relationship." Seventeen EU member states, led by the Netherlands, have called for this review to determine whether Israel's actions in Gaza constitute a violation of international law.
The review's findings are scheduled to be presented at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on June 23.
There is growing concern in Israel that the review could lead to concrete measures, including sanctions. Politico quoted senior European diplomats as saying that the EU may soon consider taking practical steps.
"The position on the EU's response to Gaza is changing," said one diplomat, citing pressure from capitals to present a menu of options in response.
"Positions are clearly shifting, and this creates a dynamic that opens up more opportunities for action," said another diplomat.