Europe firmly rejects any attempt to change Gaza's demographics, official says

The European Union has expressed strong opposition to any attempt to alter Gaza’s demographics or territorial status.

The EU’s Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, stated: “The European Union firmly rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in Gaza.”

“We welcome the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction plan recently presented at the Cairo Summit and adopted also by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “ added.

Kallas stressed that the Arab plan for Gaza presents a serious framework for discussions on the territory’s future, adding that the EU will engage with its Arab partners to explore these ideas further.

“We support a future state of Palestine with Gaza as an integral part of it. And we will work with the international community in rebuilding Gaza,” she said.

Stressing the importance of delivering aid to the enclave, she noted: “It is imperative that the delivery of humanitarian aid is not politicised or conditional. Any and all blockades to delivery of aid at scale must be lifted.”

On 2 March, Israeli occupation authorities announced the closure of all crossings into Gaza, halting all deliveries of lifesaving humanitarian aid. Tel Aviv has sought to force Palestinians to accept its new terms for the ceasefire and not to negotiate on the second phase of the deal, as had previously been agreed.

READ: UNICEF: 90% of Palestinians in Gaza lack access to clean water