EU Welcomes Arab Recovery & Reconstruction Plan for Gaza

The European Union welcomes the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan presented at the Cairo Summit on 4 March that was also adopted by the OIC. This plan represents a serious basis for discussions on the future of the Gaza Strip and the EU will discuss these ideas with its Arab partners.

Any plan for the future of Gaza must provide credible solutions for reconstruction, governance and security. Recovery and reconstruction efforts must be based upon a solid political and security framework acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, which provides peace and security to both sides.

The EU is determined that there must be no future role for Hamas in Gaza, and that Hamas will no longer be a threat to Israel. We will continue our political and financial support to the Palestinian Authority and its reform programme, to help it prepare for its return to govern Gaza.

The EU calls for the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement, leading to the release of all the hostages and a permanent end to hostilities.

The EU is fully committed to reviving a political horizon towards peace in the Middle East, based on the two-state solution. It recalls the importance of sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza.