EU Hosts Gaza Peace Conference to Reassert Influence in Middle East
The European Union (EU) convened a peace conference in Brussels, attended by representatives from over 60 nations, to discuss stability and long-term peace in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The EU, a major aid provider to Palestinians and a key trading partner with Israel, has been sidelined in recent Middle Eastern negotiations, including the October ceasefire in Gaza. The conference aims to renew EU influence in the region, especially following the election defeat of Viktor Orban in Hungary, a strong ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The EU supports a two-state solution, although ongoing violence in the West Bank and Gaza complicates this goal. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa emphasized the need for unified governance and security in Gaza, calling for the disarmament of armed groups and Israeli withdrawal.