Israel-Hamas war: EU foreign ministers discuss ‘post-conflict’ scenario

"There must be a kind of Palestinian authority which must be invested with powers by the international community. It’s normal that the Palestinian Authority doesn’t want to return to Gaza in an Israeli tank. That’s perfectly understandable," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.

“We have been far too absent. We have delegated the solution of this problem to the United States,” he said. “Europe must become more involved.”

The European Union is willing to work together with the U.S. and Arab States on a framework to build peace between Israel and the Palestinians, said EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.

During a meeting in Brussels on Monday (13 November), EU foreign ministers discussed a possible "post-conflict scenario" to build stability and peace, he said

Among the ideas discussed is an involvement of the EU in the building of a Palestinian state. "We have been too absent until now," Borrell said at a press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council.

"There must be a kind of Palestinian authority which must be invested with powers by the international community. It’s normal that the Palestinian Authority doesn’t want to return to Gaza in an Israeli tank. That’s perfectly understandable," he added.

He continued: "I can’t imagine that order can be restored in Gaza without the intervention of the Palestinian Authority. Because if we don’t want it to be under Israeli domination, if we don’t want to leave Gaza in the hands of Hamas again, it’s obvious that someone will have to get involved. If we say that we need to find a comprehensive solution for Palestine, for the territory and the Palestinian people, some sort of Palestinian authority will have to step in."

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He said no to any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, to a permanent re-occupation by the Israeli military or any change to Gaza’s size and to a return of Hamas.

“There will be no solution without strong commitment from the Arab states, and that cannot be limited to money. They can’t just pay … for a physical reconstruction,” Borrell said. “There has to be a political contribution to the construction of a Palestinian state,” he said.

“We have been far too absent. We have delegated the solution of this problem to the United States,” Borrell said. “Europe must become more involved.”

Borrell said he will visit Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan” this week. It will be his first visit to Israel since his appointment four years ago.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Israel a few days after the 7 October Hamas massacre which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

On Sunday (12 November), Borrell called for "immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza".

He also reiterated EU’s position about "Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law" and its call on Hamas "for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages". "It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is granted access to the hostages," Borrell said.

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