EU’s Gaza reconstruction pledge means nothing without Israel giving access to the enclave

The European Union's recent pledge of nearly €900 million for Gaza's reconstruction is jeopardized by Israel's restrictions on access to the enclave. Announced on Monday (July 13) by EU Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, the funds aim to restore social services, infrastructure, and governance. However, experts like James Moran from the Centre for European Policy Studies emphasize that "It's not about the money. It's about access, primarily." Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa echoed this, stating, "Not much will happen until Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas." Šuica herself acknowledged, "To be open, the key problem is access to Gaza," citing the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, which is based in Cairo because Israel prevents its entry into Gaza. The article suggests that without clear Israeli guarantees on access, the reconstruction efforts will likely fall short, especially as EU discussions on trade restrictions and sanctions against Israel remain unresolved.