€900 million in aid pledges was assembled by the EU for Gaza reconstruction at a Brussels meeting of the Palestine Donors Group, though officials gave no timeline for disbursement.
Dubravka Šuica said the money would flow through “trusted partners,” but rebuilding remains blocked by a fragile ceasefire and stalled talks over disarming Hamas.
$70 billion is the estimated reconstruction bill for Gaza, where more than 60 million tons of rubble could take over seven years to clear before broader rebuilding can advance.
The Brussels talks also gathered U.S.-backed reconstruction figures, Palestinian Authority officials and Gaza’s new administrative committee, underscoring unresolved disputes over who will govern and rebuild the enclave.
Separately, EU ministers debated cutting trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank; Kaja Kallas said such a move would need only a majority vote, though some members still oppose tougher action.
With $1 billion pledged but the ceasefire stalled, is Gaza's reconstruction just an impossible dream?
Can the EU's strategy of aid and sanctions break the decades-long political stalemate?
EU’s €30 Billion Gamble: Gaza Aid, Settlement Sanctions, and the Stalemate Blocking Recovery (2023–2026)
Overview
The European Union is responding to the ongoing Gaza conflict by freezing €14 million in cultural projects with Israel and re-evaluating its relationship with the country. This comes as Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank reaches record levels, leading to daily violence and over 1,000 Palestinian deaths. The deepening occupation and further isolation of East Jerusalem are making a two-state solution increasingly unlikely. In light of these developments, the EU is considering cutting off trade with Israeli settlements, reflecting growing concern over the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for decisive political action.