Yesterday, Tuesday, Denmark and Sweden announced the suspension of their development aid to the Palestinians after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), and other factions of the Palestinian resistance on Saturday, confirming in return the continuation of their humanitarian aid.
The Danish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Copenhagen had launched a study “to ensure that Danish funds are not misused, especially to support terrorist organizations that indirectly attack Israel .”
The statement explained that "this review will take place within the framework of close dialogue with Denmark's partners in the European Union and the Nordic region."
Denmark had allocated development assistance to the Palestinians for the year 2023 worth 235.5 million kroner ($33.5 million), but this money has now been suspended.
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In return, Copenhagen allocated 115 million kroner ($16.35 million) in humanitarian aid for emergency aid as well as 25.8 million kroner ($3.66 million) through Danish NGOs.
These funds are not included in the suspension decision, and therefore they are scheduled to be disbursed according to the plan drawn up for them.
In Stockholm, the Swedish government announced the suspension of its development aid to the Palestinians.
Development Aid Minister Johan Forssell told reporters, “Sweden will suspend until further notice development aid to Palestine.”
"We don't want Swedish taxpayers' money to go to actors who don't have a very clear vision on these fundamental issues, distancing themselves from terrorism," he said during a press conference in Stockholm.
Some 57 million Swedish krona ($5.2 million) will now not be paid as planned this year.
On Monday, the European Union backed down from announcing the suspension of aid to the Palestinians, while the foreign ministers of member states were preparing to hold an emergency meeting to review this aid.
Union Commissioner for Expansion and Neighborhood Affairs Oliver Varheli said on Monday that the Commission is putting under review all its development aid to the Palestinians, which amounts to 691 million euros ($729 million).
Varhelyi (Hungarian) confirmed in a post on the X website that all payments were “immediately suspended.”
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Yesterday, Tuesday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced the continental bloc’s opposition to Israel’s imposition of a severe blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Hamas operation, indicating that the majority of EU countries refuse to stop aid to the Palestinian Authority.
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