Welcoming the agreement reached to end the conflict in Gaza, the European Council is expected, according to draft conclusions dated Tuesday 21 October, to call on all parties to engage constructively and to implement the agreement “fully” and “without delay”, “allowing for a permanent end to hostilities”.
European leaders are expected to pledge that the EU will continue to contribute to peace efforts and to work actively with its partners on the next steps towards implementation. Thus, they are expected to stress that the EU “will support the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid in coordination with international partners” and point out that the humanitarian situation is “dire”.
The EU will also make full use of its two missions in the region - EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS - the mandates of which should be strengthened, according to the European Council. In addition, the EU “stands ready to contribute to Gaza’s stabilisation, transitional governance, recovery and reconstruction”.
The leaders are also expected to call on Israel to release the withheld clearance revenues needed to ensure the proper functioning of the Palestinian Authority and the delivery of essential services to the population.
Finally, the European Council is expected to call for an end to settler violence and settlement expansion - in particular a reversal of the E1 settlement plan - and an end to the Israeli military operation. However, unlike in December, it will not be calling for the adoption of additional sanctions against violent settlers, a measure that has still not been adopted.
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/j2w (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)