The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pleaded on Tuesday for “sustainable financial support” to the Palestinians, following a joint meeting of their foreign ministers in Oman.
Both sides “stressed the importance of sustainable financial support for UNRWA (the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees) and the continuation of humanitarian and development assistance to Palestinians in the occupied territories” , declared the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized its relations with Israel in 2020, immediately announced humanitarian aid of $20 million to the Palestinians.
“This aid, which will be distributed through UNRWA, is part of the Emirates’ policy of providing assistance to vulnerable populations (…) throughout the world,” the news agency said. official WAM.
The EU announced on Monday that it would carry out a review of its development aid program for the Palestinians, after the Hamas attack on Israel, specifying that humanitarian aid was not concerned. .
A Commission spokesperson clarified on Tuesday on this subject that no payments would be interrupted as long as this review was in progress.
According to Mr. Borell, the information according to which Germany had decided to cancel its aid to the Palestinians after the Hamas offensive is “false”.
“The German minister has clearly said that this is not the case at all, and that Germany will continue to provide this support,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
The country could evaluate its programs in the medium and long term, but “not suspend,” he added.
The EU, the main financial supporter of the Palestinians, plans to spend some 1.2 billion euros between 2021 and 2024 to finance projects, particularly in education and health.
This article is originally published on .lorientlejour.com
