Welcoming Israel’s decision to support the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump (see EUROPE 13720/9), EU High Representative Kaja Kallas urged Hamas on Thursday evening (2 October) to support the plan, release all remaining hostages and lay down their arms. In a statement on behalf of the EU, she also asked those with influence over Hamas to pass on these messages.
Ms Kallas called on all parties to “seize this opportunity” presented by the plan, which “offers a way out of this devastating conflict, ensuring an immediate ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages, and guaranteeing the provision of full humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip”, which are priorities for the EU.
Other elements supported by the EU and present in the plan: a demilitarised Hamas, with no role in future governance, the elimination of any threat to Israel, that Gaza will not be occupied and that Palestinians won’t be displaced, the High Representative detailed.
According to Ms Kallas, the transitional agreements should pave the way for a lasting and viable peace through a credible path towards a political plan for a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.
The High Representative said that the EU was ready to make a “valuable” contribution to the plan “through the variety of tools at its disposal” and to work with its regional partners to define the next steps together.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/irs (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)