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The European Union wants to play an active role in Middle East diplomacy in the wake of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, provided that Hamas does not play a role in the future of the region.
“Hamas is not an interlocutor for us. It is a terrorist group,” the European Commission Commissioner for Crisis Management and Preparedness told Euronews in an exclusive interview in Brussels.
“We need to see Hamas disarmed and no longer part of the two-state solution,” she added.
The 20-point peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump has opened a window of hope, but the urgent need now is to alleviate suffering and provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, Rahbib said.
He called on Israel to quickly implement the second phase of the agreement by allowing 600 trucks per day into the territory.
“We are not there yet, so we call on the Israeli authorities to keep their commitments,” Rabib told Euronews’ flagship interview program “The European Conversation.”
Ravib pointed out that the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council recently decided to continue the pressure on Israel by putting on the table a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
In September, weeks before the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the EU Commission formally proposed suspending parts of the bilateral agreement with Israel after an investigation showed possible violations of human rights obligations.
The EU is Israel’s first trading partner and the first international donor to the Palestinian Authority.
“This balanced approach also needs to ensure that our rules and principles are respected,” Rahbib said.
Belgium does not block “new ways to finance Ukraine’s war chest”
Mr Ravib highlighted the war in Ukraine and affirmed the EU’s continued commitment to support the country and its people.
“I remember when I was foreign minister, I always reiterated that we would support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and we are doing so now and will continue to do so,” she said.
Commenting on Belgium’s resistance to the issuance of a 140 billion euro loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian financial assets held in the Brussels-based Euroclear depository, Ravib expressed understanding of Belgium’s position.
He said Belgium would not block new ways to finance Ukraine’s war chest.
“We don’t have an example to follow and we need to be safe from a legal standpoint. That’s the only thing, that’s the only point,” she said. “I think it’s only a matter of time.”
Belgium’s main concern is Russian retaliation if it demands the return of assets and the lifting of sanctions.
“We just need to ensure the legal aspects so that Belgium is not taken to the Court of Justice later on,” Rahbib said.
EU leaders had hoped to reach an agreement on the plan after intense debate at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday.
However, the EU27 leaders left without making a decision after failing to allay Belgium’s concerns about the proposal.
The topic is likely to come up again at another summit in November or December.
Asked if Europe was preparing for war, he pointed to the changing nature of war.
“We prepare for everything every day,” Rahbib said. “But war (…) is not about soldiers knocking on the door.
“Today’s reality is a nuclear accident caused by a virus, a chemical attack, perhaps a power outage. So we need to understand today’s threats well.”
