A debate has erupted over aid payments to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Some EU countries, such as Austria and Germany, are halting the flow of money after the terrorist attack by Hamas, which is based in the crisis area. Aid organizations cannot understand this. But there is also criticism from other EU countries.
The Global Responsibility Working Group calls on the Austrian federal government not to suspend funding for Austrian Development Cooperation (OEZA) projects.
“Immediate humanitarian aid measures are now urgently needed for the suffering civilian population in the Middle East,” the director of the umbrella organization of dozens of Austrian development and humanitarian non-governmental organizations said in a broadcast on Tuesday.
The poorest bear the suffering
In the Palestinian territories, countless people are affected by abject poverty and poor supplies of electricity, food and drinking water. “In the Gaza Strip, civilians remain defenseless during the fighting,” Wank addressed the government.
ADC projects ensure stability, rule of law and democratic structures, as well as better supply structures, Wank said. “If this long-standing work on the ground is interrupted, women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly, whom Austria wants to support, will ultimately suffer,” Wank argued.
International voices have also recently argued that the stop would ultimately lead to even more aggression. Ultimately, this would further strengthen the terrorist group Hamas, which has controlled the sector since 2007.
Political scientists see double standards
Political scientist Abdullah Baabood criticized that the West too often applies “double standards” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While the EU and the West demanded democracy from the Arab and Gulf states, Israel could do whatever it wanted. And the citizens in these countries felt this too. It is no wonder that the region is turning towards Russia and China.
On the one hand, these would be available as economic partners and would not tend to act from above. Citizens in the Arab region feel that the West does not treat their countries as equals.
Schallenberg rejects criticism
“This leads to radicalization,” warned Omani Baaboo, who also holds a state chair of Islamic regional studies in Qatar and is a visiting professor at Waseda University in Tokyo. In a telephone conversation with journalists, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) described it as “necessary and legitimate” to evaluate what happens to Austrian taxpayers’ money.
These should not support structures that promote Hamas. There are currently no humanitarian aid funds in the pipeline. Austria does not want to stop “useful projects” that could lead to further radicalization. He expects “no major discussions” on the subject at the current meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Some EU countries, such as France and Spain, were irritated by the European Commission’s announcement on Monday that it would suspend “all payments” to the Palestinians. The discussion continued on Tuesday: Foreign Affairs representative Josep Borrell said after a meeting of the EU Gulf Cooperation Council that “the EU payments” would be paid to the Palestinians.
Spain and France demand more aid money
This year alone, around 300 million euros has flowed into various projects. Financial support of €1.18 billion from EU funds was planned for the period 2021 to 2024. It is not yet clear how things will finally proceed. On Tuesday, the European Commission pulled back considerably.
There are even calls from Spain and France to further expand aid payments. They clearly criticized Austria and Germany for ‘freezing’ the funds.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
