The European Union has halted development aid payments to the Palestinians and is placing 691 million euros ($728 million) in assistance following the Hamas attack on Israel.
The European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, wrote on X on Monday: “All payments are immediately suspended. All projects are put under review. All new budget proposals, including for 2023 postponed until further notice. Comprehensive assessment of the whole portfolio.”
He added, “The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual. As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of EUR 691m.
Varhelyi emphasized the importance of addressing the fundamentals of peace, tolerance, and coexistence at this point.
“Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many. We need action and we need it now,” he stated.