The European Union (EU) on Thursday reiterated its strong opposition to any demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip and its support for the reunification of Gaza with the occupied West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking at a briefing in Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said that the bloc’s position “has not changed” and emphasized that it is based on international law, including United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2735.
“The EU rejects any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip and supports the reunification of the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority,” he said.
He also cited statements by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen from November 2023, in which she emphasized that Gaza is “an essential part of the future Palestinian state” and that “there should be no forced displacement of Palestinians.”
Since October 2023, the Israeli military has killed nearly 57.700 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave and led to food shortages and the spread of disease.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide lawsuit before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the war in the enclave.
