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Leaders of the European Union gathered in Brussels to discuss the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza, but they were unable to agree on ways to pressure Israel into putting an end to the conflict.

The EU-Israel Association agreement was likely violated by a report released last week by the diplomatic service, which was released on Thursday. The bloc avoided jetting down about reversing the 25-year-old agreement or taking action on the assessment.

The EU calls for a full end to hostilities and the immediate cessation of hostility in Gaza, according to a statement from the EU.

The EU ordered a review of its association agreement with Israel in May in response to growing allegations that Israel is starving people in Gaza supported by rights organizations and UN experts. The evaluation was time-sensitive, was sent to member states last week.

However, several media outlets quoted informed diplomats who claimed that the findings highlighted Israel’s blockade of Gaza, the killing of civilians, attacks on hospitals, mass displacement of Palestinians in the territory, and the expansion of illegal settlements in occupied West Bank.

The summit’s conclusions on Thursday featured an attenuated statement that criticized “the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation” in Gaza in light of a growing chasm between Israel-backed countries like Ireland and Spain and Germany and Hungary.

It put the “discussions on a follow-up” to the report’s next month on hold.

Because of those significant differences between some of the key players at the EU regarding how to look ahead in relation to Israel, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, a reporter in Brussels, reported on the watered-down version of the final statement.

He said that Germany’s desire to continue providing political and military support to Israel was “unequivocal.”

The timid statement came in spite of Spain and Ireland’s campaign to halt the 2000-diplomatic relationship between the EU and Israel. It supports trade ties between the two countries.

Before the gathering, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin remarked, “The war must stop.” The fact that Europe does not appear to be able to press Israel to end this conflict in Gaza and the ongoing slaughter of innocent children and civilians is beyond comprehension for the people of Europe.

Israeli attacks alone on Thursday resulted in the deaths of 62 people, some of whom were killed close to a humanitarian aid facility run by the shady US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization that was contracted to provide aid under the guise of Israeli troops and security personnel.

At least 549 Palestinians have died near GHF sites since the Gaza-based government media office first started conducting operations a month ago, according to a report released on Thursday by the government of Gaza. According to the health ministry of the enclave, 56 out of 156 people have died as a result of the war.

Israeli leaders urged Israel to “throw out its blockade of Gaza” in order to allow for the immediate, unhinged distribution of humanitarian aid there.

They also criticized the West Bank’s escalation, citing “increased settler violence” and “the expansion of illegal settlements.”

Israel’s largest trading partner is still the EU.

On Iran, “Sidelined.”

Conclusions from the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran reiterated earlier calls for a de-escalation and stated that Iran “must fulfill its legally binding nuclear safeguard obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Israel is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal, whereas Iran denies this.

Iranian lawmakers have already voted to end cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the Guardian Council of Iran, on Thursday.

Ahelbarra, a journalist for Al Jazeera, claimed the Iran statement’s language showed the EU was “completely sidelined” by the conflict, which saw the US bomb nuclear sites before announcing a ceasefire on Monday.

Defense’s foundation has “eroded.”

At the meeting on Thursday, EU leaders discussed the 18th round of sanctions against Russia, which is currently in its fourth year of hostility in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, urged his country to send a “clear political message” to leaders via video that it was on the verge of EU membership.

Following Wednesday’s NATO summit in the Hague, leaders at the EU’s leaders reaffirmed their commitment to raising military spending by 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.

You would expect them to invest even more in their defense base, which has declined for the past 30 years, according to Teresa Fallon, director of Brussels’ Center for Russia, Europe, and Asia Studies, according to Al Jazeera.

She claimed that US President Donald Trump wanted to “shift the burden to Europe so that the US can concentrate more on China.”

Tehran, Iran – Once more, the roads leading to Tehran are jam-packed with people packing suitcases, suitcases, and cautious optimism that their homes might be safe. A ceasefire announced on Monday has begun attracting residents back to the city, which has been plagued by Israeli air strikes for more than 600 Iranians and left hundreds of thousands of people in the capital.

The relief of sleeping in their own beds is tempered by the constant concern that the bombing could resume at any time for many Tehran residents.

Nika, a 33-year-old graphic designer who spent nearly two weeks living with her husband at their relatives’ home in Zanjan, which is located about 286 kilometers (177 miles) northwest of the capital, said, “Coming back home after all these days, even from a place where you had physical safety feels like heaven.” She continued, “But I’m not sure if the ceasefire will last.”

Israel launched what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities at dawn on June 13 that changed millions of lives. The two regional powers engaged in unprecedented firefights that for the first time in decades and directly impacted Tehran.

Many residents, frightened of their lives, were forced to flee the capital for the relative safety of other cities and villages as Israeli attacks on residential areas increased and warnings from American and Israeli officials to evacuate Tehran grew louder.

Many of Tehran’s residents felt the need to give up their lives.

Before the war, Saba, a 26-year-old university student, said, “I had an incredibly busy life. I managed all of my household chores while living in Tehran, working full-time, and studying, all while living alone. I was in shock when the war broke out, for a few days, and I couldn’t believe it was coming to an end. I continued to work, go shopping, or visit a cafe. However, you eventually realized that reality no longer existed. The world was coming to an end.

By the fifth day, she was forced to leave.

“First, my university exams were postponed, then my employer told us to work remotely, and then all of my friends left Tehran,” I thought. She recalled that she felt terrible loneliness. I kept myself busy during the day, but when the sounds of bombing and air defenses started to appear at night, I was unable to fool myself.

Her father drove her to the family’s home in northeastern Iran, where she spent the rest of the day staying there until the ceasefire, leaving her hometown of Quchan, a city close to Mashhad.

The nights “were intolerable.”

At least 610 people died and 1,481 were injured in the conflict, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, with more than 90% of the casualties being civilians.

In response to security concerns, businessman and CEO of a private company in Tehran, Kamran, who requested anonymity, said, “Initially, I had decided to stay in Tehran and keep the company running.” Life was manageable during the day, despite the bombing and the sound of air defense. The father of two, however, described the nights as “absolutely intolerable.”

In the first days of the war, many people fled the city. Two significant issues weighed on their departure at the time: lengthy line-ups at gas stations, heavy traffic, and long line-ups at gas stations, which made it difficult to get to the destination safely.

Many people who had left Tehran have now begun to make their way back after the ceasefire was declared.

Coming back to my own home after 11 days of living in a place without any signs of war, which had no privacy or peace of mind, was like heaven, Nika said.

She said, “It was incredibly challenging to live with 11 other people in an environment that was never quiet, despite years of being accustomed to the silence of my own home.” When the ceasefire was declared, she immediately moved into her Tehran two-bedroom apartment.

Nika acknowledged, “I don’t know whether the ceasefire will last or not. I don’t believe I want to leave my house once more, though, even if it doesn’t.”

Uncertainty in the future

Not everyone had the good fortune to buy a home again.

While he was sheltered with his family in a nearby town, Iranian musician Keyvan Saket learned that an Israeli missile had struck his home. However, his neighbor’s call to deliver the depressing news did not prevent him from returning after the ceasefire was established.

One of the bombs dropped at Saket’s house, according to Saket, causing no more destruction. However, because of safety concerns, it forbade him and his family from entering their home. We encountered an unsettling scene once the issue was resolved and we were permitted inside, he said. The building’s facade was destroyed, the windows and doors were severely damaged, and there were also serious injuries to the refrigerator and washing machine. Even the building’s iron doors were mangled because of the intense attack.

As he contemplated the impact of the conflict, Saket’s voice lacked a strong sense of sorrow. He lamented the loss of a home he cherished, “With every fiber of my being, I despise war and those who ignite it.” The ugliest of all human creations is war, according to the saying.

Both sides have accused one another of violating the ceasefire, and there is a high risk of new violence. Israel claims to have intercepted Iranian missiles after the ceasefire, while Iran has reported continuing Israeli attacks for several hours following the agreement. Israeli forces attacked targets in Tehran, including the notorious Evin Prison, and Iranian missiles attacked areas in Israel right after the ceasefire announcement was announced, and strikes continued on both sides.

A student majoring in political science, Hamed, considers the situation to be fragile. He said, “This feels like a recurring nightmare to me.” On the day the ceasefire was announced, he had already left the southeast of Iran and was concerned about having to flee his hometown and life for good. “I really don’t want to pack my things up and leave my house before I can come back,” he said.

Tehran’s streets are clearly busier than they were before the ceasefire, despite this underlying anxiety. There is evidence of a cautious, determined return to life in the capital as businesses end their remote work policies and retrain employees.

Attacks targeted several provinces, including Alborz, East Azerbaijan, Isfahan, Fars, Kermanshah, and the capital itself, causing significant damage to Tehran’s infrastructure. During the 12-day conflict, Israel claimed to have struck more than 100 targets all over Iran.

Tehran’s wide boulevards are once more swayed by traffic in the early mornings. With a bright smile and a cautious optimism, Saba smiled and said, “Seeing others return to the city alongside me, watching cafes and restaurants reopen, and feeling life flow back into the streets… it truly lifts my heart.” The threat of an uncertain ceasefire looms as the city recovers, a quiet reminder that this fragile revival could be put to the test at any time.