While many states have so far been cautious in their responses to Hamas’ surprise attack, the first sanctions are starting to trickle in. Several countries have in fact announced the suspension of aid sent to the Palestinian government this Monday, October 9. This is particularly the case for Germany and Austria.
While continuing to pay humanitarian aid of 73 million euros planned as part of the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Berlin announced in the middle of the day to “temporarily” suspend development aid to the Palestinian Territories which amounts at 125 million euros. “This means that (the aid) is not paid for the moment, during the control, but that does not mean that it has stopped,” said the government spokesperson after a press briefing. And to follow in the footsteps of Austria, which announced at the end of the morning “freezing all development cooperation payments for the moment” due to the “scale of terror” which justifies that all projects in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority are “screened”. In total, Austrian aid represented a windfall of some 19 million euros for these autonomous territories.
EU joins sanctions
A sum which remains very much lower than the 691 million euros paid by the European Union to the Palestinian Authority. But while the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel urgently summoned all EU foreign ministers who will meet this Tuesday, October 10, Brussels quickly joined the sanctions pronounced by two of its members. “All payments immediately suspended, all projects re-examined, all budgets concerning projects, including for 2023, postponed until further notice, re-evaluation of the entire program,” indicated Hungarian Commissioner Olivier Varhelyi for whom “the “The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people constitutes a turning point.”
In Paris, although having unambiguously condemned the offensive carried out by Hamas soldiers, the Quai d’Orsay has not yet issued any sanctions against the Palestinian Authority. A proposed resolution to this effect was nevertheless tabled in the National Assembly by the leader of the Republicans, Eric Ciotti. “As long as full light is not shed on the use of the money sent by France to the Palestinian territories, it is necessary to urgently cut payments made as public development aid,” argued the boss of LR deputies assuring that the French state would have showered the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with “almost 60 million euros” in 2021.
Urban development, food security, job creation…
Water supply and sanitation, vocational training, construction of urban infrastructure and even job creation for young people… In this region where nearly a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, this development aid had until now the objective of helping the Palestinian Authority to ensure a provision of public services to its 5 million citizens.
In spring 2021, the White House, which has so far remained silent on possible economic sanctions, notably created a surprise by announcing the resumption of American aid. A boost of 235 million dollars, 60% of which was used to finance the UN agency in charge of Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). At the same time, 75 million had been paid to support the socio-economic development of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, today entirely besieged by the Israeli army.