EU Allocates €900 Million for Gaza Reconstruction Amid Ongoing Uncertainty

A senior European Union official announced that the EU is allocating approximately €900 million, nearly one billion dollars, for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. This move comes amid uncertainty about when reconstruction efforts will actually begin and how much of this financial commitment will be fulfilled.

Dubravka Šuica, the European Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, revealed this financial package following the “Group of Donors for Palestine” meeting held in Brussels. The meeting was attended by representatives from EU member states, several Middle Eastern countries, international organizations, and financial institutions.

Šuica described the ceasefire situation in Gaza as fragile and stated that living conditions for civilians in the strip have yet to improve. According to her, financial aid will be distributed through “trusted partners,” though no further details about the implementation mechanism were provided.

According to joint estimates by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Union, Gaza’s reconstruction will require approximately $70 billion. Vast areas of the region, home to more than two million people, were either destroyed or severely damaged during the recent conflict.

The United Nations reported that over 60 million tons of rubble remain in Gaza, an amount sufficient to fill nearly 3,000 container ships. The UN has stated that clearing this rubble will take more than seven years, after which mine clearance operations must follow.

Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, reiterated the call for establishing “an independent, unified, and viable government” for Palestinians—a matter opposed by the Israeli government. The Palestinian Authority seeks an active role in Gaza’s reconstruction process, while the U.S. 20-point plan only mentions the future possibility of forming a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the 27 EU member countries discussed the rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and how to respond. The European Commission proposed several options, including severing trade relations with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Within the EU, views vary: countries like Ireland and Spain advocate for stronger measures, whereas Germany, the Czech Republic, and several others support a more cautious approach with gradually increasing pressure. Some members have outright rejected any sanctions.