BRUSSELS 

The EU is still shying away from demanding a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as relentless Israeli attacks on the enclave, which killed more than 11,000 civilians, including 5,000 children, approaches day 40.

Top officials from the bloc initially expressed unconditional support for the Israeli attack and strongly condemned the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, overlooked the civilian death toll and catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated that Israel has right to self-defense.

The European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi remarks Oct. 9 caused confusion when he said development aid and all findings for Palestinians would be reviewed.

Leyen's Oct. 14 visit to Israel, where she expressed unconditional support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without mentioning the humanitarian situation in Gaza, led to criticism within the EU.

Diplomats from EU delegations across the world warned Leyen in a letter that the EU risks losing its reputation.

Meanwhile, more and more Europeans started to protest the EU’s policy regarding the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

The union then started to put emphasize that Israel's right to self-defense should be exercised in accordance with international law.

In an extraordinary leaders' summit by EU Council President Charles Michel that coincided with Israel's attack on a hospital on Oct. 17 that killed more than 500 people, EU leaders avoided saying that Israeli attacks that violate international law should be stopped.

The EU was expected to request a cease-fire in the face of soaring civilian casualties in Gaza, but the Oct. 26 - 27 leaders' summit urged humanitarian pauses which would enable humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

In parallel to the increasing death toll in Gaza, the EU has felt more pressure by the public demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Von der Leyen emphasized Nov. 8 that civilians in Gaza should be protected after reiterating her support for Israel's right to self-defense.

The bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed grave concern Nov. 12 for the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for "immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors."

While the EU foreign ministers' meeting Monday did not yield a concrete decision, Borrell said Gaza should be part of a future Palestinian state.

The Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has continued for 39 straight days, with at least 11,240 Palestinians, including more than 7,700 women and children, killed. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in the relentless attacks.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is 1,200, according to official figures.