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The European Union is pushing for inclusion in U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed governance structure for post-war Gaza, with the bloc's foreign policy chief arguing that Europe should be "a player, not just a payer" in Middle East peace efforts.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, told reporters Monday that the 27-nation bloc wants to participate in Trump's "Board of Peace," a proposed oversight body that would supervise Gaza's transitional government under the president's newly announced 20-point peace plan.
"Yes we feel that Europe has a great role and we should be also on board with this," Kallas said during an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Kuwait. "I think Europe should be not only a payer, but we should also be a player."
The comments come as Hamas and Israeli negotiators engage in indirect talks in Egypt this week over Trump's comprehensive proposal to end the Gaza conflict, which has devastated the Palestinian territory since October 2023.
Under Trump's framework, Gaza would be governed by a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee handling daily public services, with oversight from the "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump himself. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also expected to play a role in the body, which would manage reconstruction funding until the Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms and resumes control of the territory.
The EU's bid for involvement reflects its significant stake in Palestinian affairs. The bloc ranks as one of the largest aid donors to Palestinians and maintains diplomatic ties with both the Palestinian Authority and Israel. European officials have long sought greater influence in Middle East peace processes commensurate with their financial contributions.
"We have worked on the peace plan... and we are working together with our Arab partners," Kallas said. "They understand that it is in the interest of everybody if we are there, so hopefully also the Israelis agree to this."
The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 following violent clashes between the rival Palestinian factions. Any post-war arrangement would need to address the complex political dynamics between these groups, as well as Israeli security concerns and international oversight mechanisms.
Trump's peace initiative represents one of the most detailed proposals yet for Gaza's post-conflict governance, though its implementation would require agreement from all parties to the current fighting. The plan's success would also depend on securing broad international support, including from traditional allies like the EU who have played supporting roles in previous peace efforts.
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