EU Statement – UN Security Council: Open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian questions

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

2. The Candidate Countries Montenegro*, the Republic of Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina* as well as Andorra and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

3. The situation in the Middle East requires our continued attention and active engagement. The European Union welcomes the announcement of the launch of Phase Two of the Comprehensive Peace Plan to End the Gaza conflict, endorsed by UNSCR 2803, and the nomination of a Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, with the support of the PA. 

4. The EU stands ready to continue to support peace in Gaza, through its humanitarian, security, diplomatic and cooperations tools, and looks forward to the implementation of the Peace Plan in its entirety, including the permanent decommissioning of weapons from Hamas and other non-state armed groups, the delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale and the reconstruction of Gaza. We reiterate that Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future and must never again be a threat to Israel.

5. The EU is ready to work together with the US on the implementation of the comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, with a Board of Peace carrying out its mission in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

6. In this context, the EU reaffirms its strong commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders. In this context, we recall the High-Level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York co-led by France and Saudi Arabia. The European Union will contribute to all efforts towards this solution. 

7. The European Union is committed to contributing to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, including through the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) and an enhanced mandate for the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), as well as through engagement in the Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC). 

8.  The EU stresses the need for the rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza, including via the Cyprus Maritime Corridor to supplement land routes, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and also stresses the need for the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations, to be able to work independently and impartially. In this respect it calls on Israel not to implement the NGO registration law in its current form and allow international NGOs to operate and deliver life-saving aid to civilians in need in the oPT.  The European Union calls in particular for essential items, such as shelter, winterisation supplies and medical items, to be allowed into Gaza. 

9. We underline the need for international and regional stakeholders to provide support for the reconstruction and development of Gaza, in line with international law. Building on the first meeting of the Palestine Donor Group on 20 November 2025, the European Union will engage with all partners to contribute to recovery and reconstruction efforts and continue to support the Palestinian Authority, including in its ongoing reform agenda. 

10. In this respect, the European Union reiterates the importance for the PA to implement the reform programme as agreed with the EU in the reform matrix of 2024, so that it can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. It calls on Israel to urgently release withheld clearance revenues and extend the correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks, both being necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the Palestinian Authority and the delivery of essential services to the population.

11. The European Union strongly condemns the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, including against Christian communities, and the policies and threats of forcible displacement and annexation, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as terrorist attacks against Israel. The EU calls on Israel to halt the E1 settlement project and to reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, and further undermines the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states. The EU urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and protect the Palestinian population of the occupied territories. We reiterate our call for the preservation of and respect for the Status Quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites.

12. The EU stresses the essential role of the UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, which provides crucial support to the civilian population, including humanitarian aid and basic services, both in the occupied Palestinian territory and the wider region. 

13. Let me turn to Syria.

14. The European Union remains committed to support a peaceful and inclusive transition in the country, which meets the aspirations of all Syrians and underlines the importance of protecting the rights of Syrians from all ethnic and religious backgrounds without discrimination. We will continue engaging with the Syrian transitional government to address the challenges facing the country and to support the political transition, national reconciliation, respect for fundamental rights and socio-economic recovery and reconstruction. The role of Syrian civil society is crucial to ensure the success of all these efforts.

15. The EU reiterates its call for an end to violence across Syria. The new ceasefire between the Syrian transitional government and the SDF is a positive step to stop the escalation in North East Syria. Its full implementation is key to protect the civilians and further achieve a lasting solution for an inclusive political transition in Syria, upholding and protecting the rights of all Syrian people.

16. The EU urges all external actors without exception to fully respect Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemns any unilateral foreign military actions and presence as well as attempts to undermine Syria’s stability and prospects for a peaceful transition, including through foreign information manipulation and interference. 

17. The fight against Da’esh and other terrorist groups, which continue to pose a threat to Syria and the entire international community, remains a priority. We welcome Syrian transitional government’s renewed commitment to fighting ISIS and their cooperation within the Global Coalition. We expect that the Syrian transitional government will - within the framework of the Global Coalition and in close cooperation with partners - effectively fulfil this commitment also regarding the camps and detention facilities in the North East Syria, holding Da’esh affiliates and their families. 

18. We call on the transitional government to continue and further enhance cooperation with all UN bodies and agencies, including the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria and all humanitarian actors and to grant them access to all areas in Syria. We welcome the commitment of the Syrian transitional government to verifiably destroy all remaining chemical weapons of the Assad regime. We further appreciate Syria’s constructive cooperation with the OPCW.

19. We welcome the efforts of the Lebanese Government to stabilise the country and stress the need to safeguard Lebanon’s stability. We reaffirm our support for its security, economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.  In this context, we commend the adoption by the Lebanese government of a draft “Financial Gap Law” and encourage the Lebanese Parliament to swiftly hold constructive discussions to pass this legislation, which is essential to meet the expectations of the Lebanese people and to secure an IMF program. We also reaffirm our support to the Government’s efforts to establish the State’s monopoly on holding weapons. We welcome the announcement that the Lebanese Armed Forces have completed the first phase of the “Nation Shield” plan for the State monopoly on weapons, and call on the LAF to swiftly initiate the second phase of the aforementioned plan.

20. We also reiterate the essential role played by UNIFIL and condemn attacks against UN peacekeepers, constitute a grave violation of international law, are totally unacceptable and must stop immediately. 

21. The EU urges all parties to fully respect the 27 November 2024 ceasefire agreement and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in its entirety by all sides, including the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups and withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese territory. The EU will continue to support Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and State-building efforts, including through its long-standing assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces. In this regard, we welcome the announcement of an international conference to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, to be held in Paris on March 5^th.

22. The EU reaffirms its full respect to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and reiterates the need to avoid any further destabilization in the country. We call upon all the parties to engage constructively in an inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under the auspices of the United Nations. 

23. Finally, we also reiterate the importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the role of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES in this regard. 

*Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.