EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday said the bloc was leaving the door open to action against Israel over the war in Gaza if the humanitarian situation does not improve.
Kallas has put forward 10 potential options after Israel was found to have breached a cooperation deal between the two sides on human rights grounds.
The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo and halting visa-free travel.
Despite growing anger over the devastation in Gaza, EU states remain divided over how to tackle Israel and there was no critical mass for taking any of the moves at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
"We will keep these options on the table and stand ready to act if Israel does not live up to its pledges," Kallas told journalists.
"The aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to really improve the situation in Gaza."
That comes after Kallas on Thursday announced a deal with Israel to open more entry points and allow in more food.
Gaza's two million residents face dire humanitarian conditions as Israel has severely limited aid during its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
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