At a press point in Brussels ahead of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas outlined the European Union’s position on the evolving Middle East crisis, linking regional escalation risks with the urgent need to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Kallas highlighted the broader geopolitical context, pointing to fragile ceasefires involving Iran and Lebanon and instability around the Strait of Hormuz. She warned that uncertainty over maritime access and potential “pay-for-passage” arrangements could set dangerous precedents for global trade routes. At the same time, she stressed that negotiations with Iran must go beyond the nuclear file to address missile programmes and regional proxy activities.
Despite the wider regional focus, Kallas emphasised that Gaza and the West Bank remain central to EU engagement. She rejected accusations of European double standards, underlining that the EU is the largest donor and institutional supporter of the Palestinian people, including through funding, governance support, and on-the-ground missions.
The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting focused on practical next steps for Gaza recovery and Palestinian state-building. Kallas reiterated that the two-state solution remains the only viable pathway to sustainable peace, while acknowledging limited progress in recent years.
She called on Israel to halt settlement expansion, address settler violence, and release withheld Palestinian tax revenues. In parallel, she urged the Palestinian Authority to advance governance reforms in Gaza and stressed that Hamas’ refusal to disarm remains a key obstacle. The deployment of Palestinian police and an international stabilisation force was identified as a priority to prevent further destabilisation.
On reconstruction, Kallas pointed to the newly released Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, estimating rebuilding costs at at least €71 billion. The assessment, developed jointly by the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Union, is intended to guide coordinated international recovery efforts.
Overall, the EU aims to maintain diplomatic momentum across interconnected crises while reinforcing its role as a central actor in Palestinian support, regional stabilisation, and the revival of a rules-based peace framework.
E-Summary by ChatGPT, prompted by Insight EU, based on the the statement below.
Ad Hoc Liaison Committee: press point by EU HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Espen Barth Eide, Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mohammad Mustafa, Palestinian Prime Minister
Check against delivery!
Dear Prime Minister Mustafa, Foreign Minister Eide, dear Espen,
It is a pleasure to have you here in Brussels for two important meetings. After this press conference, we will convene Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, and this morning, we already had the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution.
The Middle East stands at the moment of risk and opportunity. The fragile ceasefires with Iran and Lebanon offer a narrow window to de-escalate, but of course, both cease fires come with an expired date. Diplomacy must deliver on the region, or we will slide back into war.
In the Strait of Hormuz there are daily U- turns over whether the waterway is open or closes. Any pay for passage scheme would set the dangerous precedent for global maritime routes.
In addition, regional actors and the European Union agree that there are other concerns besides the nuclear issue that need to be addressed, like the missile programme and the proxies that need to be addressed in the negotiations.
While much attention is on Iran and Lebanon, our meetings here show that we are not losing sight of Gaza and the West Bank. Wars ripple borders and what happens in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict always affects the entire region.
I often hear accusations of double standards. That we support Ukraine, but we do not support the Palestinians. And let me get this straight: Europe is the biggest supporter of the Palestinian people. Europe is the largest donor and the main backer of the Palestinian Authority, European missions on the ground support Palestinian police, justice and governance and border management. You will not find a stronger supporter of the Palestinian people anywhere in the world.
Today the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee will focus on the next steps to support Gaza and the West Bank and I thank Espen for Norway’s long-standing leadership on this. After years of war, we have to be honest that the needle on the two-state solution has not moved much; yet it remains the most viable path to the Middle East without war.
For the two-state solution to have a fighting chance, both sides must deliver. Israel must stop its settlement expansion, settler crimes need to be punished, Israel must release the withheld tax revenues – this money belongs to Palestinian people.
At the same time, Palestinian Authority needs to move with reforms in Gaza. Hamas refusal to disarm remains a major obstacle to peace. The Palestinian police and the International Stabilization Force need to deploy to Gaza as soon as possible to prevent further consolidation of power by Hamas.
Today, we also discuss governance. It is important that the Palestinian Authority and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza work together, not cross purposes. The EU fully supports the Gaza peace plan based on UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and today’s meeting aims to keep all actors focused on that plan.
It was good to hear from the High Representative, Nickolay Mladenov, on the state of play. And by the way, it was also the first time that the High Representative Mladenov and the Prime Minister Mustafa met in person.
Finally, we will address recovery. The final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment sets out what will be necessary. Rebuilding Gaza is estimated to cost at least €71 billion. And we have been working four months with World Bank, the UN and the European Union on this assessment – it has been released today.
Prime Minister Mustafa, Foreign Minister Eide, the Ad Hoc Committee has long been a key forum for supporting the Palestinian Authority and advancing state building. It is good that you are here to address these issues, and with that, Foreign Minister, over to you.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide: Norway provides NOK 100 million in budget support to Palestine
Brussels, 20 April 2026
“The economic situation in Palestine is so precarious that hospitals, schools and other public services are at risk of collapse. We must do what we can to prevent such a collapse. That is why we are now providing Palestine with NOK 100 million in budget support,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
The announcement of the budget support comes as Foreign Minister Eide meets Prime Minister of Palestine Mohammad Mustafa in Brussels. In Brussels, Eide will chair a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for Palestine together with the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas. He will also take part in a meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
The situation in Palestine is being exacerbated by extensive movement restrictions imposed by Israel, settler violence and the occupation.
Israel has not transferred Palestinian tax revenues for almost a year. Donor contributions can never replace all of Palestine’s own revenues, and Palestinian Government have been forced to make drastic cuts to the state budget. This has resulted in public employees such as teachers, health workers and police officers receiving only partial payment of their salaries.
“The war that has unfolded across the Middle East in recent weeks must not cause us to lose sight of the situation in Palestine. A Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel is the key to peace in the entire Middle East. Israel’s withholding of revenues that rightfully belong to the Palestinian people undermines Palestinian state institutions and the very foundation for future Palestinian independence,” said Eide.
Norway’s budget support will help to maintain basic public services in Palestine, particularly in the education sector, ensure the payment of salaries to public employees, and provide a degree of financial stability in an acute crisis situation.
“Without sustainable and well-functioning public institutions, the Palestinian government will not be able to meet its obligations to its population. Institutions that Palestinians, together with the international community, have built up over more than 30 years risk being eroded. The budget support helps ensure that the Palestinian population can continue to receive health care and education. I urge more countries to contribute as well,” the Foreign Minister said.
Norway’s planned support to Palestine, including support for Palestinian refugees, will be close to NOK 1 billion in 2026.
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