The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, used social media to share that the European Union does not plan to suspend existing aid payments to the Palestinians despite ongoing tensions. In his posts on X, he highlighted that halting payments would affect not just the Palestinian people but could also undermine EU interests in the region.
Oliver Varhelyi, who previously served as European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, noted that the EU had paused all payments to Palestinians and was reviewing joint projects in light of the recent escalation in the conflict with Israel. The aim, he explained, was to reassess partnership programs amid heightened security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Spanish government publicly disagreed with the European Commission’s decision to suspend financial aid to Palestine in the wake of Hamas’s attacks against Israel, signaling a split within EU leadership on how to respond financially to the crisis.
On 7 October, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and announced the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared a state of emergency within the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was at war, and the Israeli Defense Forces began an operation against Hamas named Iron Swords. The widening conflict prompted discussions about regional stability and potential spillover effects across the Middle East.
Analysts have suggested that the duration and intensity of the current escalation will influence regional security policies and international aid decisions. Observers note that the situation remains fluid, with multiple actors recalibrating their positions as events unfold.