The European Union’s top diplomat has declared that the complete disarmament of Hamas and other non-state armed groups is the most critical step towards guaranteeing Israel’s long-term security and facilitating the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The intervention, made in a formal statement on Thursday, lays out a stark diplomatic roadmap that immediately ran into political headwinds, with both Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas representatives voicing deep-seated objections to the proposed sequencing of peace.
Brussels outlines blueprint for civilian transition
In a statement released on behalf of the 27-member bloc, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas welcomed the agreement aimed at dismantling militant capabilities. The EU framed the pact as the cornerstone for preventing any future security threat to Israel.
“The EU welcomes the announcement of the agreement on the full disarmament of Hamas and other non-state armed groups, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and a civilian transition period,” the statement read, expressing gratitude to mediators for their relentless efforts.
Calls for immediate endorsement amid rising tensions
The bloc issued an urgent appeal for all parties to immediately endorse and implement the terms, while also accelerating the fulfilment of all provisions under UN Security Council Resolution 2803. However, the diplomatic optimism expressed in Brussels clashes sharply with the reality on the ground. The declaration comes just one day after The Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country had not consented to the disarmament plan normalising the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The chasm between the EU’s envisioned timeline and the belligerents’ positions remains vast. Hamas representatives have repeatedly stressed that they will not lay down their arms until Israel completely leaves the enclave and fulfils its obligations under a previously established ceasefire deal. This fundamental sequencing dispute—whether disarmament precedes withdrawal or vice versa — threatens to unravel the fragile diplomatic progress acknowledged by the EU.
A two-state horizon: Reconstruction and governance
Looking beyond the immediate cessation of hostilities, the EU committed to ensuring the Palestinian National Authority (PA) can safely re-establish effective control over the Gaza Strip. Kallas emphasized the necessity of supporting the PA’s reform programme and ensuring that the Authority’s actions are coordinated with the transitional governance structures.
The bloc pledged to continue its work through specific on-the-ground missions, including the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) and the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS).
Humanitarian aid and a political horizon
Alongside the security architecture, the statement addressed the catastrophic humanitarian situation, committing the union to “ensuring rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of desperately needed humanitarian aid on a large scale.”
Looking towards the future, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the reconstruction and redevelopment of Gaza in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law. Ultimately, Kallas reiterated the bloc’s unwavering “commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” stating that the EU is ready to contribute to the day after.
