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Thank you.  

Mr. Sa’ar, dear Gideon,  

I am glad to welcome you to Brussels today. Today marks the fifty years since the European Union signed its first trade agreement with Israel. Over these decades, our relationship has grown.  

We had a candid meeting today on issues of mutual concern, especially at this critical moment in the Middle East. I am glad we can do this with you.  

We started today by reiterating the condemnation of the brutal and indiscriminate attacks by Hamas on the 7^th of October, 2023. The State and the people of Israel can count on the European Union's full support on this.  

In the wake of these attacks, a deadly conflict has followed with atrocious levels of loss of civilian lives. We have constantly called on all parties, including Israel, to respect international humanitarian law. 

The European Union is now supporting the fragile ceasefire and that is only holding in Gaza. All parties must respect the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Our Rafah border mission is a useful and concrete contribution to the support of ceasefire on the ground. 

It was welcome news to see the release of six more hostages on Saturday, including two people who were held more than a decade. But we are closely watching developments and cannot hide our concern when it comes to the West Bank.  

The ceasefire is a real chance to break the cycle of violence. It is imperative that we now move towards the second phase. Ministers today stressed that there can be no other solution that the two-state solution. 

We support the Palestinian Authority and its return to Gaza. We support the return of every displaced Palestinian for whom Gaza is their home.  

When the time comes the European Union will also support Gaza's reconstruction together with the regional actors. Palestinians must be able to live in Gaza. At the same time, Gaza must never be again a terror haven.  

I will be holding the first ever high-level political dialogue with Palestinian Prime Minister. It will be held in April to discuss also these aspects.  

And let me finally reiterate that the European Union will continue to be an honest, open and viable, reliable partner to the region.  

Thank you again for coming.  

Q&A 

Q. There is a very fragile ceasefire in place in Gaza, and a lot of uncertainty about what comes next. What is the European Union's message? Are you planning any concrete steps beyond the European Union mission in Rafah?  

Thank you. On the ceasefire. Of course, it is important that the ceasefire agreement is fully implemented to allow the hostages to be released and to ensure the end of the permanent hostilities. I think this is important. The European Union is committed to a just and lasting peace, a comprehensive peace that is also including the two-state solution. What we are willing to do, of course, we are interacting with our counterparts. We are also able to participate in the discussions when it comes to the governance of Gaza, for example. We do not want to see Hamas there. And all the terrorism; we do not want to see this emerging again. But we definitely need to see how the services are provided to the Palestinians and how this work continues. So, we are able, and we also willing to operate there. Thank you. 

Q. I understand your EU statement talks about unwavering support for the International Criminal Court, International Criminal Justice, and it calls for respect of the functioning of the court. So, can you explain to us what you think that commitment should look like in practise? Do you want Mr Netanyahu to comply for the warrant with his arrest? Is it appropriate for Germany's likely next chancellor to extend an invitation to the Prime Minister, given that that could, if not accompanied by an arrest, constitute a violation of the Rome Statute? 

The European Union supports the International Criminal Court and neutrality and functioning of the International Criminal Court and the principles of the Rome Statute, and all European Union Member States also parties to their own statute. But it is true that the enforcement of the International Criminal Court warrants is up to the Member States to decide. So, in principle, the European Union is supporting the International Criminal Court and the neutrality of it.  

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-268025