The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, held discussions on Sunday with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar regarding the European Union’s relations with Israel, regional security, and efforts to support Gaza’s recovery. The call underscored the ongoing engagement between the EU and Israel amid heightened tensions and humanitarian concerns in the region.
Suica, in a post on the social media platform X, highlighted that their conversation covered "relations and our shared interest in security and stability across the Middle East," emphasizing the role of a "reformed and functioning Palestinian Authority" as part of broader regional stability. She also stressed the urgent need to accelerate early recovery efforts in Gaza, noting that continued cooperation is essential for implementing recovery projects aimed at restoring basic services and infrastructure.
Earlier this year, in July, the European Union and partner countries launched an initiative designed to provide funding for Gaza’s early recovery. The program focuses on rehabilitating critical infrastructure, restoring social and economic services, and strengthening governance structures in the Gaza Strip following sustained conflict.
The European Union has maintained a complex position in the Israel-Gaza conflict. While reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense, the bloc has criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza as well as the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. These settlements are widely considered illegal under international law by the EU and many other countries and are seen as a significant obstacle to the peace process and the prospect of a two-state solution.
The EU itself remains divided on its approach toward Israel. Some member states express strong criticism, while others maintain close diplomatic and economic ties. This division has occasionally led to diplomatic strains. In June, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced a suspension of all contact with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after comments attributed to her compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa, a characterization Saar rejected.
The recent exchange between Suica and Saar indicates a continued diplomatic effort to engage on key issues amid ongoing conflict and calls for humanitarian relief in Gaza, highlighting the EU’s dual role in supporting peace and recovery alongside political and security concerns in the Middle East.