President Metsola is on an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian occupied territory, where she is holding talks with the political authorities.

During her official visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, EP President Metsola was the first European leader to enter Gaza in more than a decade.&nbsp;

During her visit, the President is underlining Europe’s willingness:-to engage constructively with all partners in the region,- to ensure the current ceasefire and hostage deal holds and to provide a path to a sustainable peace in the region that can ensure security for Israel and a real perspective to the Palestinian people.

The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (President and political groups’ leaders) welcomed&nbsp;the recent ceasefire in Gaza and the progress it represents for the phased release of hostages. This development is a significant step in reducing the immense suffering endured by civilians on both sides over the past months.

US and Qatari mediators announced that Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, which began&nbsp;on 19 January. The deal includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians that have fled&nbsp;parts of Gaza will also be able to return home.

It is estimated that Israel has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians since October 2023, in response to the attack by Hamas in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and around 250 people abducted.&nbsp; MEPs have adopted a number of resolutions since the October 2023 Hamas attack, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and expressing serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Commission President von der Leyen has also said that EU should actively engage with all actors in the Middle East region to work towards a two-state solution to the conflict.

EU - Israel (T)

Situation in the Middle East (T)

Situation in Israel and Gaza

Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement: closing statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement: MEPs debate

Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement: opening statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

EP Plenary session - Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement

EP Plenary session - Deteriorating situation in Gaza following the non-extension of the ceasefire

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: meeting with families of hostages

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories - Meeting with Meetings with Released Hostages & Families and visit of the

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: extracts from the meeting with Hussein AL-SHEIKH, Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: extracts from the meeting with Sakharov Prize Nominee Reem AL HAJAJRA , Director of Women of the Sun

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories - Meeting with Hussein AL-SHEIKH, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: meeting with Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel - Jerusalem

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories - Meeting with Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel

Continued escalation in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region and the need to release all hostages

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon

One year after the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas

Plenary debate - War in Gaza

Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: visit to the Site of the Nova Festival, in Re'im

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: crossing into Gaza, visit to the border-crossing point and the humanitarian operation station

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories: meeting with Amir OHANA, Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) and Gideon SA'AR, Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy: Closing statements by Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy: MEPs debate (Part 2)

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy: MEPs debate (Part 1)

Wider comprehensive EU-Middle East Strategy: Opening statements Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and by Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean

Ceasefire in Gaza - the urgent need to release the hostages, to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pave the way for a two-state solution : MEPs debate (part 1)

Ceasefire in Gaza - the urgent need to release the hostages, to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to pave the way for a two-state solution: one round of political group speakers

Ceasefire in Gaza: extracts from the debate

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region and the need to release all hostages: Closing statements by Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region and the need to release all hostages: MEPs debate (part 2)

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region and the need to release all hostages: MEPs debate (part 1)

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