The European Commission, spearheaded by Oliver Varhelyi, has decisively suspended all payments and initiated a comprehensive review of its entire development portfolio for the Palestinians, which amounts to a substantial EUR 691 million.
Varhelyi, through a series of tweets, unveiled this pivotal decision, underscoring the severity of the large-scale terrorist attacks that have besieged Israel and shaken the global community.
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
⤵️— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) October 9, 2023
•All payments immediately suspended.
•All projects put under review.
•All new budget proposals, incl. for 2023 postponed until further notice.
•Comprehensive assessment of the whole portfolio.— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) October 9, 2023
Varhelyi’s tweets conveyed a potent message, highlighting the sheer scale of terror and brutality unleashed against Israel and its citizens as a watershed moment in the conflict: “The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual.”
The European Commission, standing as the Palestinians’ largest donor, is not only suspending all payments but also placing all projects under stringent review. Additionally, all new budget proposals, including those slated for 2023, have been indefinitely postponed, with a thorough assessment of the entire portfolio in progress.
Varhelyi also underscored the urgent need to revisit and reinforce the foundational principles of peace, tolerance, and co-existence within the region. He pointed to the corrosive impact of “incitement to hatred, violence, and glorification of terror,” which has “poisoned the minds of too many.” His call to action was unambiguous and firm: “We need action and we need it now.”
The European Commission’s decision to suspend and review a significant financial aid package sends a resounding message to the international community about its stance on the conflict, potentially opening avenues for further international scrutiny and re-evaluation of aid and support provided to the Palestinians and whether such aid enabled Hamas to carry out terrorism against Israel.
The question remains whether the United States will follow suit and immediately cease all humanitarian aid to Gaza, including funding UN organizations like UNRWA.
