The European Union is intensifying its scrutiny of financial aid to the Palestinians following the Gaza war. In response to a brutal attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead and around 240 abducted, Brussels has submitted a report showing that no EU funds went directly or indirectly to the radical Islamic Hamas. However, there are concerns that recipients may have been involved in hate speech and “glorification of terror.”
To address these concerns, the EU Commission has demanded “further information” from local partners about an additional 39 million euros in aid. Aid worth 75 million euros for the Gaza Strip was also classified as “unfeasible” and should be reallocated. Despite these measures, humanitarian aid was not affected by the review. Germany and other member states have also put their national aid to the test after the Hamas attack on Israel. The federal government recently released a good 90 million euros for the Gaza Strip and Jordan.
The EU sees itself as the largest supporter of the Palestinians worldwide, with total aid amounting to almost 1.2 billion euros in the period 2021 to 2024. However, this support comes with conditions. Brussels wants to check more closely in the future whether recipients of EU money are inciting hatred, violence or anti-Semitism before providing further assistance. This is a sign that Europe is taking its responsibilities seriously and working towards peace and stability in the region.
