The spokesperson for the European External Action Service has called for fresh reconciliation measures in Palestine.
While stressing that the agreement of 12 October and handover of Gaza crossings to the Palestinian Authority (see EUROPE 11896) were “important and welcome steps” towards reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate Palestinian authority, these measures “need to be followed up by further steps to enable the Palestinian Authority to resume its full responsibilities in Gaza and achieve intra-Palestinian reconciliation”, the spokesperson said in a press release.
She said that, following consultations internally and with international partners focussing, inter alia, on support for citizens in Gaza, the EU had decided to increase its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA). “In light of special circumstances and needs, the EU has decided to exceptionally increase its annual contribution to UNRWA by another €10.5 million”, the spokesperson announced, indicating that “a considerable part of this funding is dedicated to Palestine refugees in Gaza, in particular for health and education”.
She pointed out that the EU was also working with all relevant stakeholders on the possible redeployment of the EU border assistance mission, EUBAM Rafah, “if this can help facilitate the opening of the Rafah crossing point, which would be an important step forward for freedom of movement for the people of Gaza”.
The spokesperson stated that all of this was an “integral” part of the review of the provisions of the EU engagement that was announced in September (see EUROPE 11858). The purpose of this review is “to make our engagement in support of a two-state solution more effective and more flexible to respond to important developments, such as the ones in Gaza”, the spokesperson said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)