The EU resumes aid to the Palestinian organization, UNRWA

2024-03-02 08:51:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The EU resumes aid to the Palestinian organization, UNRWA

Illustrative photo

For a month, the European Commission stopped aid to the Palestinian organization of the UN, UNRWA, after the Israeli government accused 12 employees of this organization of cooperation with the radical-Islamic organization Hamas. Hamas, which is categorized as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. The terrorist attack prompted a large-scale military operation by Israel, in which more than 30,000 people have been killed, according to the Palestinian side. Hamas refuses to surrender and release the hostages.

50 million euros get the green light

EU payments to UNRWA will start next week. At first, 50 million euros will be transferred, then another 32 million euros will be transferred during the year in two installments. The UN organization had accepted the EU's terms regarding the payments after long negotiations. There will be an investigation into the allegations by the UN internal audit. Even the EU with its experts will conduct investigations.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, in an exchange of letters with the European Commission, has said that his organization has not been a participant in the terrorist crimes of Hamas, and all 13,000 employees who have been employed in the Gaza Strip will also be reviewed. one time. A team of experts is working on certain recommendations to prevent cooperation with Hamas in the future.

Lazzarini, at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on February 12, complained that Israel has not provided evidence for the involvement of its organization's employees in terrorist acts. EU Foreign Ministers at this meeting acknowledged that the UNRWA organization is important for the basic supply of the population in the Gaza Strip in the current state of war. According to a UN spokesman, the United Nations is also waiting for secret documents from Israel regarding the allegations.

EU increases humanitarian aid

Meanwhile, the EU announced that humanitarian aid for Gaza will increase to 68 million euros. These new funds will preferably be given to other international organizations such as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. The total amount of EU humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, which can be used by international organizations, amounts to 250 million euros.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen justified the increase in aid by stressing that "we support the Palestinian people and everywhere in the region. Innocent Palestinians should not have to pay for the crimes of Hamas. They are exposed to terrible conditions, threatening to life, because there is not enough access to food and the basic means of life."

There is no unified position in the EU on the conflict

The assessment of the situation in the Gaza Strip is not the same among the 27 member countries. Germany wants to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, but is reticent about criticizing Israel. The military operation against the terrorist organization Hamas is right and necessary, says official Berlin. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on Thursday the increase in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. It calls, like the UN, for a "humanitarian cessation of hostilities" to improve the humanitarian situation and supplies in Gaza.

Other EU member states, such as Spain and Ireland, criticize Israel and have written to the European Commission to temporarily suspend the EU's partnership with Israel. This request is being examined by the Commission, said the spokesperson of the European Commission in Brussels, Eric Mamer.

Regarding the many victims after the arrival of aid trucks in the Gaza Strip, the European Commission did not want to take a clear position. EC President Ursula von der Leyen called for an independent international investigation into the tragic case. "We can't assess what happened. We don't blame anyone. First we have to find out what happened," her spokesman said. Hamas blames Israel for deliberately shooting at the crowd. Israel links the deaths to the mass panic that broke out after the unloading of goods or the possible raiding of aid trucks./ DW