S&D Group president Gianni Pittella met with UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) commissioner-general Pierre Krähenbühl today, and reiterated the strong support of the European Socialists and Democrats for the UNRWA's work in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip and Syria.

S&D Group president Pittella said after the meeting:
 
"We need a political solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and to the challenge of rising extremism in the region. Humanitarian assistance alone will never be able to solve the root causes behind the tragedy facing Palestine refugees. Humanitarian efforts play a key role in easing the suffering of Palestine refugees across the Middle East. This is something we can be proud of as Europeans. However, the European Union and its member states – as the biggest donors to the UNRWA – cannot be satisfied with just this humanitarian assistance but must play a genuine political role in this context. Israeli and Palestinian people need Europe's help to overcome the lengthy deadlock.
 
"I am especially worried about the situation of children, who constitute around 65% of the population living in the Gaza Strip. Young people in Gaza must have the same opportunities to get high-quality education as any other child in the world. The UNRWA's efforts are invaluable in this regard, as they can help to improve the future for a whole generation of Palestinians."