Gaza, from the expulsion of Hamas to the UN mission: Ursula von der Leyen’s plan

A FUTURE OF PEACE

• While the Israeli army is on the field is surrounding Gaza City, the European Union is already thinking about the future of the Strip besieged by the Jewish state after the terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7 October. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen maintains that the EU must play a crucial role in the future of peace in the Middle East, and for this reason offers “some possible ideas” for the post-war period

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1) HAMAS OUT OF GAZA

• The points of von der Leyen’s plan are four. Let’s start with the first: the terrorist organization Hamas is out of the Gaza Strip forever will have to come under the control of a single Palestinian authority. “Gaza cannot be a paradise for terrorists, Hamas cannot rebuild its base in the Strip”, says Ursula von der Leyen

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“HAMAS MUST NOT REBUILD ITS ARSENAL”

• “We know what happened after the previous wars in Gaza – observed the president of the Commission – Hamas immediately began rebuilding its arsenal and to prepare for the next conflict. It can’t be like this anymore. Various ideas are being discussed on how this can be ensured.”

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2) PEACE MISSION UNDER THE UN

• Second point: an international peace mission under the UN. This is to say that for von der Leyen there cannot be any stay in the long run for the Jewish army in the Gaza Strip. “There cannot be a long-term Israeli security presence in Gaza,” the European Commission president said

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3) NO EXPULSION OF PALESTINIANS

• There can be no forced expulsion of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip. AND the Israeli blockade must end. This is the third point on which Ursula von der Leyen’s plan for a peaceful future in the Middle East is based. The eventual expulsion of the Palestinians”it would only be a recipe for greater regional instability“, said the number one of the EU Commission

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4) TWO STATE SOLUTIONS

• “There should be a single Palestinian Authority and a Palestinian state, which also controls Gaza”, explains von der Leyen illustrating the fourth point of his plan. “As we face the urgency of today, we must also force ourselves to think about tomorrow. Imagine what a lasting peace could look like to restore hope to Palestinians and Israelis. AND that’s why they need perspectiveand this is the two-state solution,” he stressed

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“FINDING COMMON GROUND”

• “In the end, Israelis and Palestinians will have to agree on a way forward. But I believe that we, as part of the international effort, must also contribute proposing some fundamental principles for the day after the warwhich could help find common ground”, explained the EU leader

PERSONAL IDEAS

• “This is the first time we’re hearing about this,” a senior European Council official said of Ursula von der Leyen’s ideas on Middle East peace. The journalists asked him if the number one executive, before making the plan public, had been coordinated with the Council or the EU member states

MICHEL: “IT ONLY COMES OUT WITH NEGOTIATIONS”

• In the wake of von der Leyen’s statements, the President of the EU Council Charles Michel also spoke: “The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict it will not come from more war and horrors; on the contrary, in that case it will be more difficult to put an end to it. He gets outso, only with negotiations. We are ready to promote a peace conference. The EU continues its efforts, there are no other options if Palestinians and Israelis want to live next to each other.”

THE PREVIOUS

• Before the escalation of the war, the EU was already moved for a peace plan in the Middle East. In September, nearly 50 European and Middle Eastern foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to present a new initiative, “Peace Day Effort“, which aimed to revive the peace process between Israel and Palestine. The initiative aimed to draw up a “support package” to maximize the peace dividends for Palestinians and Israelis once an agreement is reached

Israel-Palestine, 10 failed peace agreements from 1937 to today. THE MAPS