Amman, November 12 (Petra) – The EU and Canada reaffirmed their commitment on Wednesday to supporting the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and strengthening efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

They welcomed the agreement reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit last October. This came in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the fourth ministerial meeting between Canada and the EU in Niagara, Canada.

The meeting was attended by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand.

Both sides emphasised their strong and continued support for ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.

They expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts led by the US and the active role played by regional mediators in reaching the agreement.

They urged all parties to adhere to its full implementation and refraining from any actions that could jeopardise its success.

Both sides stressed that resuming humanitarian aid is a priority, emphasising the importance of facilitating its entry and wide-scale distribution through land crossings and maritime routes and enabling the UN, its agencies and humanitarian organisations to operate independently and impartially within the Gaza Strip.

They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, calling for continued support for the Palestinian Authority, including ongoing reforms and creating the conditions for its return to Gaza within the framework of the donor group for Palestine.

The statement affirmed that a just and lasting peace must be based on the two-state solution, "within secure and internationally recognised borders," in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the outcomes of the High-Level Conference on the Settlement of the Question of Palestine, hosted by New York under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and France.

It called for de-escalation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, demanding an end to settler violence, which has targeted Christian communities and to illegal settlement expansion, as well as an end to Israeli military operations.

It stressed the need for the occupying power to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law.

//Petra// AK