European Commissioner to attend Peace Council as observer

European Union Commissioner Dubravka Šuica will travel to Washington this week to attend the Peace Council meeting as an observer.

"The EU Commission is not becoming a member of the Peace Council; we are participating in this meeting in line with our long-term commitment to maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, as well as our participation in international efforts to support reconstruction and post-war recovery in Gaza," European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier told reporters.

The council was established at the end of January at the instigation of Donald Trump with the aim of overseeing the temporary administration of the Gaza Strip and should later be expanded to address global conflicts. However, this move has raised concerns among experts that it could weaken the role of the UN.

Some of the US's Middle Eastern allies have joined the initiative, but several Western countries remain cautious. Criticism has also come from human rights experts, who point to the absence of Palestinian representation on the council and liken its structure to a colonial model.

(reuters, max)