Israel has told the United Nations it will only allow 300 aid trucks - half the agreed number - into the Gaza Strip from Wednesday and that no fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure, according to a note seen by Reuters and confirmed by the UN.
The European Union should maximise its influence in Gaza's recovery process and join a US-proposed "Board of Peace" intended to temporarily oversee governance of the enclave, the EU's diplomatic arm said in a document seen by Reuters.
"It is important to obtain more clarity on essential elements currently not fully elaborated, notably which role the Palestinians will have in post-war Gaza," said the European External Action Service document, which assesses the plan and was circulated to diplomats this month.
"The EU should be a member of the future Board of Peace oversight body in order to influence strategic choices."
The 27-member EU is among the largest financial backers of the Palestinian Authority, which is seeking a significant role in Gaza after being driven out by Hamas in 2007 but must enact reforms before it can assume power.
"The EU should maximise its leverage with a view to gaining more influence on the process through the variety of tools at its disposal," the document said.
A 2025-27 EU funding programme sets aside 1.6 billion euros ($1.85 billion) for the PA and the Palestinian territories.
In the short term, the EU deems it could increase funding in Gaza, leverage civil protection assets and act as third-party monitoring as part of humanitarian aid efforts and "infrastructure rehabilitation".
It could also use an existing mission known as EUBAM Rafah to provide a neutral third-party presence at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the document said.