Given the escalation of violence in Israel, Austria is suspending development cooperation with the Palestinians. “We will temporarily suspend all Austrian payments for development cooperation,” Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) said on Monday in the Ö1 “Morgenjournal”.
This amounts to approximately 19 million euros, according to the minister. In addition, all projects involved must be “evaluated”. Further steps should be discussed with partners in the EU and at international level.
Schallenberg expects a further escalation
Schallenberg expects the situation in the Middle East to escalate further in the coming days and weeks. He was shocked by the jubilant images on the streets of Tehran and by the mullahs’ regime’s congratulations to Hamas, which had surprisingly launched rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza on Saturday morning. At the same time, armed Palestinians advanced into Israel by land, sea and air, attacking people in several towns near the border. According to the latest figures from Sunday evening, at least 700 people in Israel were killed in the major attack. Israel launched counterattacks. At least 413 people were killed, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Hamas fired several rockets into Israel again on Sunday evening. The Israeli Air Force in turn bombed numerous buildings suspected of being Hamas command centers.
Iran, meanwhile, denied any link to the attacks in Israel. “We strongly support Palestine, but we are not involved in the Palestinian response as it is only occupied by Palestine itself,” the Iranian mission to the United Nations explained. Schallenberg now wants to hear detailed explanations about the congratulations to the Palestinian terrorist organization from the Iranian ambassador himself. He has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the same time, the minister wants to ‘make it clear to the diplomat what we think of such disgusting reactions’.
Schallenberg: ‘There are still scheduled flights’
Schallenberg also provided an update on the situation of Austrians in Israel on Monday morning. You keep in touch with them. A hundred people are currently trying to leave the country. “There are still scheduled flights and the border crossings with Jordan are still open. “But the situation is very unstable and can change quickly,” the Foreign Minister explained. A mobile crisis team from his department is on its way to Tel Aviv to provide on-site assistance more quickly. A crisis team is also deployed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Schallenberg called on all Austrians in the Middle East – currently about 8,000 people – to follow the news and follow the authorities’ instructions.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
