The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Egypt and Jordan on 18 and 19 November. During her visit she delivered the most recent EU aid to the Egyptian Red Crescent at the El Arish airport. She also discussed the conflict with regional leaders how to prevent violence from spreading.
Since Hamas's terrorist attack against Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, the EU has quadrupled humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people to over €100 million, and EU Member States have provided €260 million. Furthermore, the EU has launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation which has included 15 completed flights carrying aid, together with humanitarian partners. More flights are being organised every day, the President said.
The President also visited the Rafah border post, where she commended Egypt's impressive efforts in channeling aid to vulnerable Palestinians.
The President called for more aid to reach Gaza, announcing that the EU will provide additional logistical support to Egypt and that it backs efforts to find additional routes.
In Cairo, President von der Leyen met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The two Presidents agreed on the principle that no forced displacement of Palestinians should take place and discussed how to work together to avoid regional escalation.
For Israelis and Palestinians to regain "hope and perspective", the President stressed "a political horizon based on a two-state solution" and signaled the EU's readiness to support this process once the time has come.
Following her visit to Egypt, the President travelled to Jordan, where she met His Majesty King Abdullah II. She emphasised Jordan's "important stabilizing role" in the Middle East and the King's "steadfast search for a lasting solution". The leaders highlighted the need to break the cycle of violence and to reach peace on the basis of a two-state solution.
Over the weekend, High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell addressed the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, and also actively engaged with his counterparts in the region.
