BRUSSELS, Monday, April 20, 2026 (WNP): Kaja Kallas on Monday called for urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed conflict in the Middle East, warning that the region faces both “risk and opportunity” amid fragile ceasefires and ongoing tensions.
Speaking alongside Palestinian leaders in Brussels, Kallas said the current ceasefires involving Iran and Lebanon offer only a narrow window for de-escalation, cautioning that failure of diplomacy could lead to a return to war.
She highlighted growing uncertainty in key global trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, where conflicting signals over access have raised concerns. Any attempt to impose pay-for-passage arrangements, she warned, would set a dangerous precedent for international maritime navigation.
Kallas said regional actors and the European Union agree that broader issues must be addressed in negotiations, including Iran’s missile programme and the role of proxy groups, in addition to nuclear concerns.
Despite heightened focus on Iran and Lebanon, she stressed that the situations in Gaza and the West Bank remain central, noting that instability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects the entire region.
Rejecting criticism of double standards, Kallas said Europe remains the largest supporter of the Palestinian people, citing financial assistance, institutional backing, and on-ground missions supporting governance, policing, and border management.
She said the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in Brussels would focus on next steps to support Gaza and the West Bank, while reaffirming backing for a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.
“For the two-state solution to succeed, both sides must deliver,” she said, urging Israel to halt settlement expansion, punish settler violence, and release withheld tax revenues owed to Palestinians.
At the same time, she called on the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms, particularly in Gaza, and stressed that the refusal of Hamas to disarm remains a major obstacle to peace.
Kallas also emphasized the need for the Palestinian Police and an international stabilization force to deploy in Gaza to prevent further consolidation of power by Hamas.
On governance, she underscored the importance of coordination between the Palestinian Authority and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, warning against fragmented efforts.
The EU, she said, fully supports the Gaza peace plan based on UN Security Council Resolution 280 and aims to keep all stakeholders aligned with its framework.
Addressing post-war recovery, Kallas noted that rebuilding Gaza is estimated to cost at least $71 billion, based on a rapid damage and needs assessment prepared in cooperation with the World Bank, the United Nations, and the EU.
She added that the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee remains a key platform for supporting Palestinian state-building efforts and coordinating international assistance.
