European Council President: I am shocked by what is happening in Gaza

European Council President António Costa expressed his shock on Saturday at the starvation of civilians and the repeated bombing of hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

Via the X platform, Costa called on the Israeli government to lift the blockade on Gaza "now" and ensure unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

The European Council President described the situation in Gaza as a "humanitarian tragedy, where a people are being crushed by a military force, and international law is being repeatedly violated."

Costa's remarks come as the Italian government has intensified its calls for Israel to halt its deadly military strikes on Gaza, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declaring, "Enough with the attacks" on the besieged and devastated territory.

"We can no longer bear to see the suffering of the Palestinian people. Enough with the attacks (on Gaza). Let us reach a ceasefire and release the hostages, but let us leave in peace a people (who have fallen) victim to Hamas," Tajani added, according to his spokesman, during a visit to Sicily.

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it was expanding its offensive to defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where pre-dawn airstrikes killed ten people, according to the Civil Defense, following several days of deadly bombardment on the devastated and besieged enclave.