European backers have put on a show of support for the Palestinian Authority and the push for a two-state solution, as the US-Israeli war with Iran has dragged focus away from Gaza, AFP reports.

“We meet in the middle of a storm. But we cannot abandon the compass,” said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot at the start of a meeting of the “Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution”.

“We must hold the course, because the Israeli-Palestinian issue is affecting the Middle East as a whole and also the rest of the world.”

The European Union is the biggest financial backer of the Palestinians and — despite having reservations about the Ramallah-based authorities —believes they have a key role to play in post-war Gaza.

“We can and must do more to ensure respect for human rights and accountability, to protect the Palestinian people and to put the two-state solution solidly on the table again,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.