European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to a two-state solution and announced initiatives to support Palestine and rebuild Gaza. “We will set up a Palestine Donor Group. Because any future Palestinian State must be viable also from an economic point of view. And we Europeans will set up a dedicated instrument for Gaza’s reconstruction. Gaza must be rebuilt,” von der Leyen said.

Underscoring Europe’s role in backing the Palestinian Authority, she noted, “When the night is darkest, we must hold fast to our compass, and our compass is the two-state solution. Since the beginning of this war, Europe has been the lifeline of the Palestinian Authority. But we must all do more, and this is why we will set up a Palestine donor group.”