EU chief diplomat: Majority in EU against payment freeze for Palestinians EU expects more than a million asylum applications for 2023

According to EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell, an overwhelming majority of EU countries reject a temporary freeze on payments to the Palestinian Authority. There are only two or three countries that see it differently, Borrell explained on Tuesday evening after informal talks between EU foreign ministers about the attack on Israel by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. For the time being, there should therefore only be a review and a postponement of payment.

Ending support for the Palestinian Authority would be the best gift Hamas could be given, and it would jeopardize its interests and partnership with the Arab world, Borrell argued. The Palestinian people are also suffering right now.

Borrell did not say which two or three countries are in favor of a payment freeze. It is certain that Hungary is one of them.

Major confusion about payments

There was great excitement before the ministerial meeting about the EU’s development aid payments to the Palestinians. The responsible EU commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi, initially announced on Monday that all payments would be immediately suspended in view of the Hamas attack on Israel. A spokesperson for the authority first confirmed this. A press release from the Brussels authorities issued on Monday evening said that as no payments were currently planned, there would be no suspension of payments for the time being. According to information from EU circles, several capitals had previously called for the announcement to be withdrawn.

According to the Commission, EU aid to the Palestinians is currently mainly used to finance important support services for the Palestinian population and for the autonomous government. The authority cites the healthcare sector, social assistance services for poor families and development projects in areas such as democratic governance, the rule of law, water, energy and economic development as concrete examples. The United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East is also supported.

According to information from the Commission on Tuesday evening, around 400 million euros of the funds planned for the Palestinians until the end of 2023 could theoretically be frozen. Since the start of the current plan period in 2021, 463 million euros have already been paid out.

Germany is among the EU countries that have so far announced a temporary suspension of payments of bilateral financial assistance for cooperation with the Palestinian territories. Following Hamas’s major attack on Israel, the Ministry of Development is also investigating payments to the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Palestinians (UNRWA). “We will continue to assess on a priority basis and decide quickly as payments in this area become necessary. “We do not want to run the risk of the situation on the ground becoming even worse for vulnerable groups such as women, children or refugees,” a ministry spokesperson told the German news agency in Berlin.

The EU consultations were organized on the sidelines of an international meeting in the Gulf state of Oman. Some ministers participated in person, others via video link.

Borrell stressed on Tuesday evening that ministers had also backed a declaration negotiated before the EU consultations with representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Given the developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip, this requires, among other things, the protection of civilians.

The text states that obligations under international humanitarian law must be kept in mind. They also call for restraint to ensure the release of hostages and access to food, water and medicine. To prevent the vicious circle of violence from repeating itself in the future, a political solution to the crisis is needed. Both sides continue to support the idea of ​​a two-state solution.

Borrell also referred that evening’s warning specifically to Israel, accusing the government of violating international law with measures such as cutting water, electricity and food supplies to the Gaza Strip. Even after Hamas’ barbaric attack, we must not forget that the right to defense must be exercised within the framework of international law, Borrell stressed, noting that the measures also affect a large number of civilians. “Israel has the right to defend itself, but this must be done in accordance with (…) international humanitarian law.” (sda/dpa)