European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed on Monday that the creation of a Palestinian state is “the best way to ensure Israel’s security.”
Borrell held a video meeting with foreign ministers of European Union countries after a tour of the Middle East during which he spoke about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Borrell said his talks in the region had brought him to a “key political conclusion.”
In a written briefing on the meeting with foreign ministers from the bloc’s countries, Borrell said: “I believe that the best guarantee for Israel’s security is the creation of a Palestinian state.”
Borrell stresses that Israel must not occupy the Gaza Strip after the end of the current conflict and that the administration of the Strip must be handed over to the Palestinian Authority.
He said: “Despite the enormous challenges, we must present our ideas regarding stability in Gaza and in the future Palestinian state.”
Borrell, who has visited several Arab countries, also stressed the “urgent” nature of addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He said: “The UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce is a great step forward, but we must be careful to speed up its implementation.”
There are fears that the current conflict will lead to a further deterioration of the situation in the West Bank and the involvement of other Middle Eastern parties.
Borrell said: “In light of increasing acts of violence by extremists and settlers against Palestinians, there is a real danger that the situation will see an escalation.”
He continued: “Reports that the Houthis have hijacked a ship constitute a further disturbing indicator of the risk of regional expansion” of the conflict.