Representatives from more than 60 countries gathered in Brussels on Monday for talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa on restoring stability, security and lasting peace in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, as global focus remains on tensions in Iran and Lebanon.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who is co-hosting the meeting with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said the ongoing violence in the West Bank and the widespread destruction in Gaza are making a two-state solution increasingly difficult.
He said Belgium, along with many European and Arab countries, still sees the two-state solution as the only practical way to achieve lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, and to ensure regional stability.
The European Union, a bloc of 27 nations, remains the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. While the EU has not joined the peace framework initiated by US President Donald Trump, it continues to support a multilateral approach through the United Nations and international law, and is keen to maintain a role in Middle East diplomacy.
Anger across Europe over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led many EU leaders to criticise Israel’s military actions and increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Following the recent removal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, the bloc may now have enough support to consider tougher steps, including targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers or reviewing ties with Israel.
Palestinians in the West Bank say Israel has tightened control over the territory amid the Iran conflict, with a rise in settler violence and stricter movement restrictions imposed by the military on security grounds.
Speaking at the conference, Mustafa called for unified governance in Gaza under one authority, stressing the need for a single security system coordinated with international partners.
He also urged the gradual disarmament of all armed groups and called for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.