BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (KUNA) -- The European Union on Monday welcomed the release of Israeli occupation hostages, saying it "brings hope to the Middle East," and announced the resumption of its civilian mission on the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Wednesday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that "a new page can be turned and a new chapter can begin," stressing that Europe "fully supports the peace plan brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Tأ¼rkiye." She added that "the finalization of the agreement ending the war today in Sharm El-Sheikh is a historic milestone," noting that the European Union "stands ready to contribute to its success with all tools at its disposal, particularly by supporting governance and reform of the Palestinian Authority." Von der Leyen further stated that the European Union will be "an active force within the Palestinian Donors Group" and will provide "EU funding for the reconstruction of Gaza." For her part, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a similar post on X that "the release of hostages is a major success for diplomacy and a crucial milestone toward peace," praising the role of US President Donald Trump in achieving what she described as a "historic breakthrough." Kallas pointed out that "securing peace in Gaza will be extraordinarily complex, and the peace plan requires strong international backing to succeed," affirming that the European Union "stands ready to do its part in this process." She announced that the European Union "will on Wednesday resume its civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt," considering that this mission "can play an important role in supporting the ceasefire." (end) arn.aai