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As the elected Chair of the Delegation for relations with Palestine, I have the honour of presiding over our regular meetings in Brussels and Strasbourg, and setting the agenda for the work of this Parliament body, which is responsible for maintaining and enhancing Parliament's contacts with Palestine's institutional and civil society stakeholders.

The delegation holds regular meetings with Palestinian and international groups on EU-Palestinian relations, on political, economic, social and human rights developments in Palestine, and on regional issues - first and foremost, the Middle East peace process - as well as on the repercussions of the ongoing illegal occupation practices.

This Delegation monitors the EU's policies towards Palestine and the EU's actions promoting the Middle East Peace Process and the establishment of the two state-solution. Furthermore, we scrutinise the use of EU funds for Palestine, including to the UNRWA. In this way, the Delegation helps fulfil Parliament's democratic scrutiny responsibilities and ensure the vital work of organisations like UNRWA can continue.

We are currently paying close attention to the critical situation in Gaza; our Delegation will assess options for 'the day after' these devastating events , including the role of the Palestinian Authority and other regional actors in the possible future new landscape, as well as the role the EU could have in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to closely monitor the very concerning situation in the West Bank and the illegal occupation policies (settlements, settlers' violence, demolitions, evictions, "administrative" prisoners, etc.).

The Delegation frequently takes action, through public statements, meetings and exchanges with various stakeholders and often jointly with other EP institutional bodies, in support of human rights and the upholding and consistent application of international and EU law.

In my capacity as DPAL Chair, I look forward to guiding our Delegation through these shifting times and to work with my colleagues making our Delegation an active player of parliamentary diplomacy with a view to supporting all efforts for a ceasefire, the end of the devastation in Gaza and the end of the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories and promoting all the steps needed to get to a two-state solution.

You are welcome to attend our meetings in Brussels or Strasbourg, or to follow the livestreaming of our meetings on this website.

Lynn Boylan