Bitter dispute between Trump and EU over Gaza’s future breaks out into the open

The Guardian World

by Patrick Wintour in Munich

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A heated dispute has erupted between Europe and the United States over the future of Gaza, centered on Donald Trump’s controversial "Board of Peace." The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has criticized the initiative as a personal tool for Trump that bypasses accountability to Palestinians and the UN. She argued that it undermines international efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict, while Spain’s foreign minister accused Trump of sidelining Europe—a key funder of the Palestinian Authority—from the process. The "Board of Peace" was proposed by Trump in 2019 as a framework to mediate peace between Israel and Palestine. However, critics argue it disregards established UN resolutions and excludes major stakeholders like the EU, which has long played a crucial role in funding and supporting the Palestinian Authority. Kallas emphasized that such unilateral actions risk alienating Palestinians and further destabilizing the region. The spat highlights broader tensions between Trump’s approach to Middle East diplomacy and traditional multilateral efforts led by international organizations. Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights has already strained relations with key allies, including Europe. The dispute underscores how Trump’s administration is redefining US engagement in the region, often at odds with long-standing international norms. For readers tracking global politics, this conflict highlights the growing divide between US unilateralism and multilateral approaches championed by the EU. It also raises questions about the future of peace negotiations in Gaza, where both Israel and Palestine remain deeply divided. The spat could further complicate already fragile relations between the US, Europe, and key Middle Eastern stakeholders.

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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/13/2026