The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed five “fundamental principles” that will guide the future of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war between Israel and Hamas, reports Euronews, as quoted by Rador Radio Romania.

The principles underpinning the prospect of a two-state solution include ending Hamas’ dominance in the densely populated enclave and lifting a strict blockade imposed since 2007 by Israel and Egypt.

The European Union and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organization and have no official contact with the group. “Hamas has continued to build up its arsenal while Gaza’s economy has collapsed, so this is exactly the opposite of what we wanted. 70% of youth in Gaza are unemployed.

And this can only lead to greater radicalization,” said the president of the European Commission on Monday morning during the annual conference of EU ambassadors in Brussels.

“Any future Palestinian state must be viable, including economically,” Ursula von der Leyen said.

Ursula von der Leyen’s five principles for Gaza are as follows:

• lack of shelter for terrorists;
• the absence of a government led by Hamas;
• the lack of a long-term Israeli security presence;
• no forced displacement of Palestinians;
• without a long blockade.

“All this may seem too ambitious as the war continues to wreak havoc,” Ursula von der Leyen admitted, adding: “But we must spare no effort to keep hope alive, to find a lasting solution based on two states, to live side by side.” by your side in peace and safety.” The comments of the President of the European Commission were made in the context of the escalation of hostilities in the region.

Israel has vowed to “destroy” Hamas after the militants carried out an unprecedented series of attacks in Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces have heavily bombarded the Gaza Strip, causing a serious humanitarian crisis.

More than 9,700 people have died, including 4,800 children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The European Union adopted a common position, supporting Israel’s right to self-defense “in accordance with international law” and calling for “humanitarian corridors and gaps” to speed up the delivery of emergency aid such as food, water and fuel to Gaza. But this appeal, supplemented by that of the US, has produced no change on the ground and appears to be ringing hollow, with civilian casualties rising.

“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. The death toll and the suffering of Palestinian civilians is tragic. Our hearts bleed when we see the images of small children pulled out from under the rubble,” emphasized Ursula von der Leyen.

“Israel has the right to fight Hamas, but it is also important that it tries to avoid civilian casualties and strike as precisely as possible. Because every human life matters, whether Israeli or Palestinian,” she continued.

Ursula von der Leyen on Monday announced an extra 25 million euros in humanitarian aid to Gaza, bringing the total funding for this year to 100 million euros, and said her chief executive was working on a “sea corridor” from Cyprus in addition to the passage to Rafah. which is the only route currently available for delivery of emergency supplies.

The European Commission president’s speech signals a new tone for Ursula von der Leyen, who was criticized in the early days of the conflict for taking too one-sided a stance in favor of Israel, and reflects Brussels’ growing concern over the rising death toll in the region.

“The scale and scope of today’s events require us to act and think strategically. Especially when the fog of war is thick, emotions are strong,” said Ambassador Ursula von der Leyen, referring to the conflicts in Ukraine, the Caucasus and the Sahel.