Tightened Aid Eligibility Criteria for Palestinians Being Proposed.

Following the brutal attack on Israel by Hamas, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of around 240 individuals, the European Union has taken steps to review its financial aid to the Palestinians. The EU Commission conducted an audit report on aid worth 331 million euros for the current year and found no evidence that any European funds had been directly or indirectly transferred to Hamas. However, there is a suspicion that some recipients may have engaged in hate speech and “glorification of terror” with an allocation of 8 million euros. As a result, Brussels has demanded further information from local partners regarding a further 39 million euros.

The EU’s aid to 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, with a total aid package of almost 1.2 billion euros for the period from 2021 to 2024. It is worth noting that humanitarian aid was not affected by this review process. Germany and other member states also put their national aid to the test after the Hamas attack on Israel, with Germany releasing an additional 90 million euros for Gaza Strip and Jordan. The review process for other areas is expected to be completed soon, according to State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth at an EU meeting in Brussels.