EU rejects any attempt at demographic, territorial changes in Gaza

The EU rejects any attempt to make demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, a European Commission spokesperson said Friday.

Christian Wigand was responding during the Commission’s daily press briefing to an Anadolu question about statements by Israeli officials concerning plans to displace Palestinians from the enclave.

In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735, “we reject any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip,” Wigand said.

He also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for bringing Gaza and the occupied West Bank under a unified Palestinian Authority.

“There should be no forced displacement of Gazans. Gaza is part and parcel of a future Palestinian state,” he added.

Wigand described inflammatory rhetoric as “unacceptable,” stressing that all parties should focus their efforts on de-escalation rather than fueling tensions.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently said the government was prepared to facilitate the departure of Palestinians from Gaza “by sea, by air, in every way possible,” claiming there was no alternative solution to the crisis.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also presented a plan envisaging the departure of 1.86 million Palestinians from Gaza over seven years, describing it as “voluntary migration.”

Under international humanitarian law, the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territory is prohibited and may constitute a war crime.