Israel promises to allow EU aid for essential services into Gaza for first time in year

The European Union has announced it will permit aid for essential services into Gaza for the first time in a year, in a significant development for the war-torn enclave. EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, received a commitment from Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, that €43 million ($49 million) worth of aid would be allowed in to restore basic services such as water pumps.

This pledge marks the first instance of early recovery projects being implemented in Gaza. The EU's project aims to reduce exposure to wastewater and the spread of disease caused by waste, as well as pave the way for more EU-financed recovery initiatives under the €900 million Team Gaza Initiative. The initiative, announced alongside the US-led Board of Peace, requires close coordination between the EU, US, regional and international partners, Israeli authorities, and Palestinian institutions.

Despite the recent tensions between Israel and the EU, diplomatic relations continue to be maintained, with Suica attending Board of Peace meetings and meeting with Saar in Jerusalem. The Board of Peace has unveiled a six-month recovery plan for Gaza, requiring $2.45 billion to implement its first 66 projects. However, it remains unclear where these projects will be carried out within Gaza.

The US has granted the committee's head, Ali Shaath, a visa to attend the UN General Assembly, but has refused to allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to join. The two bodies do not coordinate. Israel and Hamas have not agreed on key concessions regarding demilitarisation and troop withdrawal, despite a nearly year-long ceasefire.

Washington has not allowed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the UN General Assembly, despite granting Shaath a visa. The Palestinian Authority's ability to govern Gaza remains uncertain, with low-level hostilities continuing despite the ceasefire.