During her visit to Israel, the EU Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that “Israel’s security is very important for the EU, but respect for the rights of Palestinians is also necessary.”

European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, in her first visit to Israel after taking office, reaffirmed Brussels’ support for Tel Aviv once again.

Kallas, who said that “the escalation of tension in Gaza leads to horror and death for the Palestinian people,” expressed during a joint meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in occupied Jerusalem that Israelis must feel safe in their own homes. Unfortunately, Kallas remarked, “My visit coincided with a difficult time. The breakdown of the ceasefire this morning led to terrible loss of life.”

Stating that “the ceasefire should be restored in the Gaza Strip, all prisoners should be released, and humanitarian aid flow should be resumed with the establishment of a permanent ceasefire,” Kallas emphasized the importance of discussions about the future governance of Gaza. Kallas assured that the EU is ready to take responsibility in these discussions, saying, “This way, we can prevent these problems from occurring in the future. It is clear that the EU supports the fight against terrorism. Israel’s security is very important for the EU, but respect for the rights of Palestinians is also necessary.”

Moreover, Kallas conveyed to Saar during their bilateral meeting the EU’s concerns about the escalating attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.