'No Hamas rule, no blockade.' Von der Leyen proposes five principles for Gaza's future

The principles, which are anchored in the perspective of a two-state solution, include the end of Hamas rule over the densely populated enclave and the lifting of the strict blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007.

The European Union and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organisation and have no formal contact with the group.

"Hamas has continued to build up its arsenal, while the economy of Gaza has collapsed, so it’s just the opposite of what we wanted. 70% of young people in Gaza are jobless. And this can only lead to more radicalisation," the president of the European Commission said on Monday morning during the annual conference of EU Ambassadors in Brussels.

"Any future Palestinian State must be viable, also from an economic point of view."

The five principles for Gaza proposed by von der Leyen are:

"All of this may look overly ambitious, as the war still rages on," von der Leyen admitted. "But we must spare no effort to keep the hope alive. To find a lasting solution, based on two states, living side by side in peace and security."

Von der Leyen's comments come as fighting intensifies in the region.

Israel has vowed to "demolish" Hamas after the militant group launched a series of unprecedented attacks in Israel on 7 October in which more than 1,400 people were killed.

Since then, the Israeli Defence Forces have pounded the Gaza Strip with heavy bombardment, causing a severe humanitarian crisis. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry of Gaza, over 9,700 have been killed, including 4,800 children.

The European Union has adopted a joint position supporting Israel's right to self-defence "in line with international law" and calling for "humanitarian corridors and pauses" to accelerate deliveries of