The Gaza Strip crisis remains the top priority for the Twenty-Seven, who express growing alarm over the humanitarian aid blockade at the border. Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, urged action on Monday, stressing that trucks at the border are useless if aid cannot reach those in need. He plans to begin a regional tour on Tuesday, visiting Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, to discuss a new framework of conditions aimed at delivering a practical, medium- to long-term solution to the conflict. [Citation: European Council briefing, Brussels, 2024]
“This tragedy must push everyone to accept a two-state approach as the basis for durable peace,” Borrell asserted after the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. He described a fresh framework to the 27 member states, outlining the prerequisites for reaching a sustainable settlement and stressing collaboration with the United States and Arab partners. [Citation: Brussels meeting notes]
Borrell summarized the stance with a clear refrain: three asks and three noes. First, there can be no forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Second, there must be no unilateral reduction or re-occupation of Gaza’s lands. Third, Palestinian issues must be addressed in their entirety, without cherry-picking. On the positive side, he spoke of engaging actors who can help build institutions, reintegrate the Palestinian Authority into Gaza with legitimate UN Security Council oversight, and secure robust participation from Arab states and the EU in backing a Palestinian state. [Citation: EU diplomatic briefing]
Europe expands its role
“We have fallen short. Europe must step up its commitment, or the cycle of violence will keep looping from one generation to the next,” he warned. In his schedule, Israel’s leadership is expected to engage Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan in quick succession. The region has seen limited aid flow through Rafah, with around 40 trucks a day compared with pre-war levels of roughly 500, according to Borrell. He also noted that two dozen of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were operating with reduced capacity. [Citation: EU briefings, 2024]
EU officials acknowledge that the Rafah crossing remains insufficient. They propose increasing transit capacity by allowing more trucks, opening additional dry ports, or leveraging the Cyprus sea corridor initiative. Though Gaza lacks a natural port, discussions include innovative ideas such as floating bridges to improve access. This is an ongoing effort, with concrete steps being explored to make such plans feasible. [Citation: EU logistics working group]
Sanctions on Russian diamonds and other crises
The meeting also reviewed two other flashpoints: the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Diplomats heard the latest assessments from Kyiv via video link and discussed winter needs. Borrell confirmed that the European Commission is close to finalizing a new sanctions package against Russia, the twelfth since the invasion began, which could be approved as soon as Wednesday. The proposal would include a ban on Russian diamond imports, tighter oil price caps, and additional measures to curb sanctions evasion. [Citation: European Commission briefings]
Once Brussels submits the proposal, it will require unanimous approval from the Twenty-Seven before it can take effect. The previous round of sanctions, approved in late June, included tensions around diamond restrictions, a point Kyiv had pressed for months. The EU held off until Belgium secured G7 alignment in exchange for its backing. [Citation: EU Parliament records]