Brussels, October 10, 2023* - In a significant and contentious move, the European Union has announced the suspension of development aid to Palestinians in response to a multi front attack by the armed group Hamas that claimed the lives of hundreds of Israelis. The EU decision, which came on Monday, has sparked debate and dissent among member states.
The EU revealed its decision to place all 691 million euros ($728 million) of development aid to the Palestinians under review. Oliver Varhelyi, the Commissioner for the EU's Neighborhood and Enlargement, took to social media to convey the rationale behind the decision, stating, "The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual."
While this decision garnered support from several member states, including Germany and Austria, it also took some by surprise. Spain, Ireland, and Luxembourg expressed their dissent and reservations.
Spain's Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, openly disagreed with the EU's decision and called Commissioner Varhelyi to convey Spain's reservations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain stated that Albares had urged for a discussion on this matter during Tuesday's meeting of the foreign ministers.
Ireland raised questions about the legitimacy of the decision, asserting, "Our understanding is that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner, and we do not support a suspension of aid." The Irish Foreign Ministry has formally requested the European Commission to clarify the legal basis for this announcement.
Luxembourg's acting foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, also voiced his government's opposition to the suspension of aid. However, within the European Commission itself, there were signs of concern. Janez Lenarcic, the Commissioner for Crisis Management, emphasized that EU "humanitarian aid" would continue.
The Hamas assault into southern Israel has resulted in the loss of at least 800 lives and left thousands wounded, marking the deadliest attack of its kind in several decades. The Palestinian group also captured over 100 hostages during a swift and shocking assault on Saturday. This assault even included an attack on an Israeli music festival, where over 260 bodies have been recovered, according to an Israeli rescue service. In response, Israeli air attacks on Gaza since Saturday have killed more than 500 Palestinians and wounded thousands.
Israel, in response to the Hamas assault, has issued warnings of a substantial retaliatory strike on Gaza, a densely populated and besieged enclave with a population of 2.3 million Palestinians. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a "complete siege" of Gaza, cutting off access to essential resources such as food, electricity, water, and fuel.
The EU's decision to suspend development aid to Palestinians marks a critical development in the ongoing conflict, with a divided response from member states reflecting the complex and sensitive nature of the issue. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the situation in the region and the broader dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.