BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers will hold a series of meetings Monday with counterparts from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and key Arab nations about the war in Gaza and prospects for a future peace settlement, officials said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki are not expected to meet each other during their Brussels visits.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia will also meet with European ministers in Brussels as fears swirl that a wider conflict could engulf the Middle East.
European diplomats said their aim is to sound out each side over ways to end the violence on the ground and the next steps toward a longer-term solution.
The 27-nation bloc — along with the United States — believes the creation of a Palestinian state remains the only viable way to secure a lasting peace.
In the face of spiralling violence across the region, EU countries this week gave initial backing to setting up a naval mission to help protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi.
A proposal for deployment says it could have three frigates and a mandate to defend ships, but not attack the Houthis onshore, like a US-led coalition operating in the region.
EU ministers meeting on Monday are set to discuss the mission, but it is only expected to be finalized next month.
The Netherlands and Germany have said they are willing to contribute ships to mission.
