Brussels Donor Conference Pledges Nearly 900 Million Euros for Gaza Reconstruction

The aim of the so-called Gaza Initiative is to intensify and coordinate efforts to rebuild the coastal strip, large parts of which were destroyed by the war. According to the EU, the initiative covers the restoration of health, energy, agricultural, and food systems.

Priorities of the Gaza Initiative

Another focus is on providing the civilian population with basic water and sanitation services as well as the clearance and disposal of debris and waste. This is intended to rapidly improve the living conditions of the people in the coastal strip.

Additional funds are coming from Germany: the German Development Ministry is providing 66.5 million euros in new funds, according to its own figures. In addition, almost 57 million euros are coming from ongoing projects, bringing Germany's total contribution to around 124 million euros.

German Contribution and Political Conditions

Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said in Brussels: "Es gehe darum, schnellstmöglich Sofortmaßnahmen auf den Weg zu bringen, um das Leben für die Menschen in Gaza erträglicher zu machen." Short-term aid is to be combined with long-term structural assistance.

EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas stressed that EU support is tied to reforms of the Palestinian Authority. Financial participation is thus linked to concrete political and administrative progress by the Palestinian Authority.

Participants and Political Signals

For the first time, Ali Shaath, the head of the transitional administration in Gaza, also took part in the meeting. His participation is seen as a political signal of the attempt to reorganize the administration of the coastal strip under an overarching structure. In addition, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammed Mustafa, traveled to Brussels.

Nikolaj Mladenow was invited on behalf of the so-called Board of Peace founded by US President Trump. His presence underscores transatlantic coordination in shaping the aid programs.

Dispute over Settlement Policy

On the margins of the conference, the EU foreign ministers used the meeting to once again sharply criticize Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank. However, they were unable to agree on sanctions. The question of possible European consequences on the settlement issue therefore remains open, while reconstruction aid for Gaza is to be advanced in parallel.