Brussels: The European Union and Egypt confirmed their support for a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction efforts at the conclusion of the first EU-Egypt Summit held in Brussels. The initiative aims to bolster regional stability and promote peace and development in the Middle East and Africa.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the summit’s joint statement emphasized Egypt’s pivotal role in maintaining regional security and addressing crises. The EU and Egypt welcomed the agreement on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict, facilitated through international mediation. The statement also highlighted the outcomes of the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace held on October 13, urging all parties to continue implementing the plan’s provisions.
The statement expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stressing the need for safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access and the restoration of essential services, particularly in the healthcare sector. Ensuring full humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, under the supervision of the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA, remains a shared priority for both the EU and Egypt.
The EU and Egypt reiterated their commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two-State solution, aligned with UN Security Council resolutions and the New York Declaration. The statement condemned settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank, considering them violations of international law and obstacles to the two-State solution. It also strongly rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement of Palestinians from any part of the occupied territories.
The leaders underscored their support for the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda, which includes establishing a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee to facilitate the unification of the West Bank and Gaza under Palestinian Authority governance. They emphasized their commitment to contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza, including through an international reconstruction conference to be hosted by Egypt once a lasting ceasefire is achieved.