Al-Jazeera has collected reactions to the Israeli embargo on Gaza from leaders around the world, including Benita Ferrero Waldner, the European Union external relations commissioner, who said that Israel was pursuing “collective punishment” against 1.5 million innocent people in Gaza.

The EU commissioner warned that neither the closure of Gaza’s border nor the deadly air raids and incursions of the past week would bring Israel security from rockets fired by Palestinian armed groups.

“Only a credible political agreement this year … can turn Palestinians away from violence,” she said.