EU Stands Against Forced Displacement in Gaza, Pledges Support for Reconstruction
Europe to Support Palestinians' Safe Return and Gaza's Reconstruction Efforts Amid U.S. and Israeli Plans for Voluntary Departure.
Watan-Reuters revealed details from a document it reviewed, confirming that the European Union plans to inform the Israeli occupation state next week that it must ensure the safe return of Palestinians who were displaced from their homes in the Gaza Strip. Europe will also contribute to the reconstruction of the now-destroyed sector.
According to what the agency uncovered, this stance contradicts the announced goal of U.S. President Donald Trump for the United States to manage the Gaza Strip and oversee its reconstruction, while relocating its entire population to other countries to transform it into what he called the “Mediterranean Riviera,” a plan that was widely rejected and condemned.
In contrast, the European Union’s position aligns closely with that of Arab countries. Reuters noted that the EU, a major donor to the Palestinians, is scheduled to clarify its position to Israeli officials during talks in Brussels.
EU Aligns with Arab Nations, Opposes Palestinian Displacement in Gaza
These talks will take place on February 24, within the framework of the EU-Israel Partnership Council, marking the first session of its kind since 2022.
The same document, outlining the EU’s draft position, reaffirms Europe’s commitment to the security of the Israeli occupation state and its stance that “safe and dignified return of displaced people to their homes in Gaza must be guaranteed.”
The EU will “actively contribute to an international coordinated effort for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza,” according to the document, which also called for “unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.”
The document highlighted that the EU expressed its “deep dismay at the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, particularly women and children, who lost their lives, and the catastrophic humanitarian situation, especially due to insufficient aid entering Gaza, particularly in the north.”
In a related context, in strong opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, Arab and Palestinian public figures launched a petition titled “Palestine’s Call: Against Liquidation and Displacement,” directed at Arab leaders attending the summit scheduled for February 27, with the goal of unifying the Arab stance and supporting Egypt and Jordan in resisting plans to displace Palestinians and control Gaza.
The petition, signed by over 1,200 Arab and Palestinian public figures, received widespread support from the official and popular Arab consensus against displacement plans. It included six key demands, the most prominent of which was translating this consensus into tangible actions, going beyond statements of rejection and condemnation to urgent, quick decisions, using all available means of pressure to prevent the imposition of a new reality in Gaza.
Arab Nations Urged to Resist Displacement Plans and Rebuild Gaza
The petition stressed the need to support Egypt and Jordan, empower them to resist U.S. pressure, and immediately halt the aggression, break the siege, open Gaza’s crossings without restrictions, and ensure the sustainable flow of humanitarian aid.
It called for the creation of a national fund for Gaza’s reconstruction and to confront displacement plans, with Arab countries bearing direct responsibility for making Gaza livable and bringing it out of destruction and siege.
In line with Trump’s plan, the Israeli occupation government has begun preparing another plan claiming to aim for the “voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza.” This plan has also been met with widespread condemnation and rejection.
With U.S. support, the Israeli occupation state carried out a genocide in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, resulting in around 160,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them women and children, and over 14,000 missing persons.
