Gaza - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

European criticism and skepticism regarding the legitimacy of US President Donald Trump's initiative, dubbed the "Peace Council," have intensified. Following statements on the matter by European Council President Antonio Costa, several European capitals, including Rome, The Hague, Berlin, and Paris, have expressed their refusal to join the initiative.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on US President Donald Trump to amend the charter of the newly announced "Peace Council," pointing to constitutional obstacles preventing Italy's participation. This comes at a time of growing European doubts about the initiative's legitimacy and its compatibility with the UN Charter.

According to the European news network Euronews in Brussels, Meloni, during a press conference held on Friday after meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressed her hope that Trump would be able to end the war in Ukraine, thus paving the way for his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Netherlands will also not join the Peace Council established by US President Donald Trump. Outgoing Foreign Minister David van Wel announced this decision on a Dutch television program. The Peace Council was initially intended to oversee peace in Gaza, but Trump now appears to have a broader role. Critics fear he is creating a parallel organization to the United Nations. Trump invited some 60 countries to join the council.

Most European countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain, declined the invitation. Among EU member states, Hungary and Bulgaria, among others, pledged support.

Ultimately, US President Donald Trump did not want neighboring Canada to join the Peace Council. He withdrew the invitation without explanation. Spain declined the invitation on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, Germany joined the list of countries refusing to join.

The European Union has serious reservations about the Peace Council launched by Trump. Following an extraordinary summit of EU leaders on Thursday evening, António Costa, one of the EU leaders, expressed serious doubts about several provisions of the Peace Council's charter, concerning its scope, governance, and compatibility with the UN Charter. Israel is seeking to ensure that fewer Palestinians enter Gaza than leave when the Rafah crossing reopens.

Reports indicate that Israel aims to allow fewer Palestinians to remain in the Gaza Strip than the current population. By imposing strict border controls, Israel seeks to ensure that fewer people enter Gaza than leave. Reuters reported this information, citing three unnamed sources.

The Rafah crossing is set to reopen next week. This crossing, which connects Israel to Egypt in the south, is the only way for the vast majority of Gaza's two million residents to leave the Strip. The reopening of the crossing is part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

During this second phase, the Israeli army is expected to gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, but according to Reuters, the army wants to maintain control of the Rafah crossing. Israel has controlled the crossing since 2014 and therefore also determines the type of humanitarian aid that enters Gaza.

It remains unclear how Israel intends to ensure that fewer people enter the Strip than leave. The rationale or ultimate goal is also unknown. The second phase is slated to include the presence of Palestinian Authority officials at the border crossing.

In the past, far-right elements within the Israeli government have entertained ideas about "cleansing" the Gaza Strip. Last year, US President Trump proposed a plan to relocate Gaza's residents to Egypt and Jordan. However, this plan is no longer included in the US peace plan.

According to Dutch media, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is temporarily avoiding flying over several airspaces in the Middle East. For example, it will not operate flights to Iran, Iraq, and Israel, as well as several Gulf states. This also means suspending flights to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Tel Aviv until further notice.

The company stated that it is taking this step as a precautionary measure. The exact reason for KLM avoiding these airspaces was not disclosed. KLM typically consults with Dutch authorities regarding such decisions. A company spokesperson told the Dutch news agency ANP: "We assess the situation daily, and we have now determined that it is unsafe." Air France and British Airways canceled their flights to Dubai on Friday, but airspace remained open. Emirates, for example, continued to operate flights to its hub in the United Arab Emirates.

This came after a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that Iran would consider any US attack an act of full-scale war.

The statement came ahead of the arrival of US aircraft carriers and other military equipment in the Middle East in the coming days.

The official added that Iran was on high alert due to the announced US military buildup in the region. "We hope this is not aimed at a real confrontation, but our military is prepared for the worst-case scenario," said the official, who requested anonymity.

The official emphasized that any attack, "limited or unlimited, precision or military, whatever you call it," would be considered an act of full-scale war, and that Iran would respond with maximum force if it occurred. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a "fleet" of warships was en route to the Arabian Gulf near Iran, and renewed his warning to Tehran against killing protesters or resuming its nuclear program.