The European Union has decided to tighten its financial aid to the Palestinians following the Gaza war. According to Vice Commission President Valdis Dombrovskis, an audit report showed no evidence that EU money had been used directly or indirectly by the radical Islamic Hamas. However, Brussels wants to closely monitor future recipients of the funds and ensure that they do not incite hatred, violence, or anti-Semitism.
Following the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 240 abductions, the EU put its support for the Palestinians to the test. The EU Commission submitted a report on aid worth 331 million euros for this year. While no European funds went directly to Hamas, there are concerns that some recipients may have been involved in hate speech and “glorification of terror.” Brussels demanded “further information” from local partners regarding an additional 39 million euros.
In addition, aid worth 75 million euros for the Gaza Strip was classified as “unfeasible” and should be reallocated. Despite this setback, the EU remains committed to being the largest supporter of the Palestinians worldwide. In total, aid for the period from 2021 to 2024 will amount to almost 1.2 billion euros. It is important to note that humanitarian aid was not affected by this review. Germany and other member states also put their national aid to the test after the Hamas attack on Israel. The federal government recently released a good 90 million euros for the Gaza Strip and Jordan. The review for other areas should be completed soon, according to Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the Federal Development Ministry.
The decision by Brussels reflects its concern about ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it and is not used for harmful activities such as terrorism or hate speech. This is an important step towards promoting peace and stability in the region and ensuring that international humanitarian assistance is used effectively and efficiently.
In conclusion, while financial aid remains a crucial component of international efforts to support Palestinian communities, it must be carefully monitored and managed to ensure that it is used effectively and does not contribute to harmful activities such as terrorism or hate speech. The European Union’s decision to tighten its financial aid conditions is a positive step towards promoting peace and stability in