After Hamas’ attack on Israel, the EU wants to examine its aid to Palestinians and “adjust” it if necessary. Previously it was said that they would be suspended immediately. But there are probably no payments due at the moment.
Following the attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel, the EU Commission has announced an “urgent review of EU aid” to Palestinians. It will also be examined whether the support programs for the population and the Palestinian Authority need to be adjusted “in view of the changed circumstances on the ground,” said a press release. Humanitarian aid should remain unaffected.
“In addition to the existing safeguards, this review aims to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables a terrorist organization to carry out attacks on Israel,” it said. The review will take place as soon as possible. All measures would be coordinated with EU member states and partners.
On the question of a payment stop and humanitarian aid, EU commissioners had previously caused irritation with contradictory statements via the online service X, formerly known as Twitter. EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi spoke of an immediate suspension of all payments.
review should Terror financing exclude
There will currently be no suspension of transfers, as announced by EU Commissioner Varhelyi, as “no payments are planned,” the EU Commission said in a statement. What this means in view of the planned support of almost 1.2 billion euros for the period 2021 to 2024 remained unclear.
According to its own statements, the EU is the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority. From 2021 to 2024, a total of around 1.2 billion euros was planned to finance projects, particularly in the education and health sectors.
Baerbock wants to continue humanitarian aid for Palestinians
Germany’s aid payments to the Palestinian territories are also to be reviewed – the Development Ministry temporarily suspended all payments. After the stop, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is sticking to humanitarian aid for the people in the Palestinian territories.
“Development cooperation and humanitarian aid are two different things,” she said on the talk show “Beisenherz.” It would be fatal, for example, to no longer provide food aid. The Green politician assured that the aid money would not be used to finance terrorist groups. This will be closely monitored.
Germany is examining aid payments
A spokeswoman for the Development Aid Ministry had previously stated in Berlin that all aid programs would now be comprehensively reviewed. However, this does not initially mean a final stop to financing, as the outcome of the examinations is still open. According to the ministry, around 125 million euros in bilateral development cooperation were promised for this year and next.
Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) also confirmed that the federal government would review its entire commitment to the Palestinian territories. She said that after the “shock” of the terrible violence, all projects would be examined thoroughly.
The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, made a similar statement. “Financial support for the Palestinians must end immediately. The Palestinian terror that we see was also financed with German taxes.”
Vienna is also stopping aid
Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also announced that he would stop development cooperation with the Palestinians. All payments would be put on hold for the time being, Schallenberg said on a public broadcaster ORF.
“Gaza is overcrowded”
A large proportion of the approximately two million people in the largely sealed-off Gaza Strip live in poverty and are dependent on aid. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) fears that the situation on site will worsen without financial aid. A UNRWA spokesman in Gaza told the dpa news agency: “Gaza is overcrowded. The situation of the people is very difficult.”