Brussels now says that it has not suspended payments to Palestine and will review with the 27 that the funds do not reach Hamas

BRUSELAS, 9 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Commission has clarified in a statement that it has not suspended development funds for Palestine, estimated at almost 700 million, as it has no planned disbursements, after this Monday the Neighborhood Commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi, announced that Brussels was freezing "of "immediately all planned payments" in terms of development aid for the Hamas attack against Israel.

On the other hand, the European Executive does confirm that it is beginning an "urgent review" of the assistance it sends to Palestine to guarantee that no EU funds indirectly help any terrorist organization in their attacks against the Jewish State.

Likewise, it notes that "it will review whether, in light of changing circumstances on the ground, it is necessary to adjust its support programs for the Palestinian population and the Palestinian Authority." This review, which in any case does not affect humanitarian aid, will be carried out "as soon as possible" and any possible action will be coordinated with Member States and other partners, the statement said.

In this way, Brussels seeks to settle the controversy that arose after a message on social networks by Varhelyi in which he assured the "suspension of all payments" related to development aid to Palestine, which amounts to 691 million euros.

This announcement was already qualified during the day on Monday by the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, who clarified in another message that this decision would not affect humanitarian aid to Palestine and that "EU humanitarian aid to the Palestinians will continue." as long as it is necessary."

Humanitarian funds, which in 2022 amounted to just over 25 million, are thus left out of the review. This is a small part compared to the multi-annual financial allocation for development or support for Palestinian refugees. In total, all European allocations in terms of cooperation and humanitarian aid to Palestine exceed 300 million annually.

For its part, the announcement has also raised blisters among member states after several have expressed their "displeasure" with the Hungarian commissioner's decision. Specifically, Spain has disagreed and has demanded that the issue be discussed at the level of foreign ministers of the Twenty-seven in the emergency meeting called for tomorrow.

Ireland and Luxembourg have also expressed their disagreement with a decision that they consider to have no legal basis and "unilateral by a solo commissioner." "We do not support the suspension of aid and have formally requested the Commission to clarify the legal basis for this announcement," the Irish Foreign Ministry stressed.