KUWAIT CITY: The EU is seeking a role in US President Donald Trump’s transitional authority for the Gaza Strip, its top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
“Yes, we feel that Europe has a great role and we should also be on board with this,” Kallas said, when asked if the EU wanted to take part in Trump’s “Board of Peace.”
The EU is a major aid donor to the Palestinians and has ties with both the Palestinian Authority and Israel, Kallas pointed out.
“I think Europe should not only be a payer, but we should also be a player,” she said on the sidelines of an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Kuwait.
“We have worked on the peace plan ... and we are working together with our Arab partners. They understand that it is in the interest of everybody if we are there, so hopefully, also the Israelis agree to this,” she added.
Last week, Trump announced a 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza that includes the territory’s post-war governance.
Hamas and Israel are holding indirect talks about the proposal in Egypt this week.
Trump’s plan stipulates that Gaza will be governed by a temporary technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee running day-to-day public services.
This committee will be overseen by the “Board of Peace” — headed and chaired by Trump himself, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also involved.
This body is set to handle funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority completes a reform program and takes back control of the Strip.
Also on Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that the first phase of President Trump’s plans to halt the war in Gaza must be achieved by the start of next week at the latest, but added that all the other issues would need time.
The first phase aims at a ceasefire, release of hostages and prisoners, restraint in the military conflict, and bringing in supplies to Gaza — all of which are feasible, said Wadephul.
“All other issues are very complicated and, indeed, that is why they also need time,” said Wadephul at a press conference in Tel Aviv.
“We must not abandon all diplomatic efforts, but I would like to focus now on taking this first decisive step together.”
