EU hosts Palestinian peace conference as it seeks greater sway in the
Middle East
[April 21, 2026]
By SAM McNEIL
BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe turned its attention to the Palestinians on
Monday as the election defeat of Israel ally Victor Orban in Hungary
gives new momentum to efforts addressing Gaza and the occupied West
Bank.
More than 60 nations sent representatives to Brussels for talks with
Palestinian representatives on stability, security and long-term peace.
The European Union has largely been on the sidelines in the Middle East
despite being the biggest provider of aid to the Palestinians and
backing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A
majority of EU member countries now recognize an independent Palestinian
state after many expressed outrage over Israeli actions in Gaza. The
27-nation bloc is also Israel’s top trading partner and a major buyer of
Israeli weapons.
But the EU had no role in negotiating the October ceasefire in Gaza that
took effect after two years of war. And European moves to condemn or
sanction some Israeli actions frequently had been vetoed by Orbán.
Now Hungary's next leader, Péter Magyar, is indicating he will act
differently from Orbán on Israel. And some leaders critical of Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro
Sánchez, are pushing for decisive action.
Challenging Europe's agreement with Israel
Magyar has said he would seek “pragmatic relations” with Israel but also
rejoin the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant
for Netanyahu over Gaza. Orbán defied that warrant while hosting
Netanyahu in 2025, then started the process of Hungary leaving the
world’s only court for war crimes and genocide.
Magyar also said he might not continue Orbán’s policy of vetoing actions
on Israel — a stumbling block that EU leaders critical of Israel have
failed to overcome over the past three years of conflict in the Middle
East.
After the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said
that without Orbán's veto action could be coming soon, such as imposing
sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.
“We have 27 countries and 26 countries want to put violent settlers
sanctions in place,” she said. “The one who doesn’t want the sanctions
on violent settlers has gotten their upper hand. Now, this country had
elections, and we’ll have a new government.”
The Spanish prime minister wants the EU to suspend its long-standing
Association Agreement with Israel and has said Spain will make a formal
proposal at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday.
However, a suspension seems unlikely because countries such as Austria
and Germany tend to back Israel.
The agreement in force since 2000 sets out the legal and institutional
framework within which the bloc and Israel conduct trade and
cooperation. The EU has found indications Israel had violated that
agreement in its military campaign in Gaza.
Other action, such as targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West
Bank, could be approved if a “qualified majority” — 15 of the 27 nations
representing at least 65% of the EU's population — agree.
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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, center, listens as
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, right, speaks during a
meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the
Two-State Solution in Brussels, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert
Vanden Wijngaert)
Ongoing attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and continued
devastation in Gaza, have dimmed the prospect for a two-state
solution, said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot ahead of
Monday's meeting.
“The two-state solution is being made more difficult by the day,”
Prévot said. “But Belgium and many European and Arab partners
continue to believe that this remains the only realistic path to a
lasting peace, for Israelis, for Palestinians and for the stability
of the entire region.”
Palestinian prime minister calls for unity
Gaza requires “one state, one government, one law and one goal,”
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa said in Brussels.
“Our common objective of achieving one security structure under the
legitimate authority should guide the effective coordination between
the International Stabilization Force, the Palestinian Authority,
security institutions and other international actors. Security must
not be fragmented,” he said.
He also called for “the gradual and responsible collection of arms
from all armed groups and also the full Israeli withdrawal from
Gaza.” The disarmament of Hamas is a major challenge in next steps
for the ceasefire in Gaza.
In the West Bank, Palestinians say Israel has used the cover of the
Iran war to tighten its grip over the territory, as settler attacks
surge and the military imposes additional wartime restrictions on
movement, citing security.
The EU has avoided directly joining the Board of Peace created by
the Trump administration to tackle Gaza, preferring the
multilateralism of the United Nations and global legal norms. But
the bloc is eager to not be sidelined in diplomacy in the Middle
East, just across the Mediterranean.
During the Brussels meeting, Mustafa said he had met for the first
time Nikolay Mladenov in the Bulgarian diplomat's role as the
Trump-appointed director of Board of Peace. He said he pressed
Mladenov on ongoing Israeli military action in Gaza, increasing
humanitarian assistance and security in the coastal enclave. “We see
eye to eye on many things, and I think that we will be meeting again
in the near future,” Mustafa said.
___
Associated Press writers Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal and Justin
Spike in Budapest, Hungary contributed to this report.
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