the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, welcomed, on Sunday 9 March, the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza, presented at the Cairo summit on 4 March and adopted on 8 March by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (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”, stressed Ms Kallas in a press release. With a budget of $53 billion, it aims to completely rebuild the Gaza Strip over five years.
The High Representative warned that any plan must provide credible solutions for reconstruction, governance and security. In her view, recovery and reconstruction efforts must be based on a “solid political and security framework, acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, which provides peace and security to both sides”.
Ms Kallas emphasised the EU’s determination to ensure that Hamas has no future role in Gaza and no longer poses 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”, she added.
The High Representative also called for the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, and reiterated the importance of the sustainable distribution of large-scale humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)