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A blistering row has erupted in Brussels after European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi moved to cut off funding to Palestine after Saturday\u2019s terror attack on Israel – with one furious insider describing it as a \u201cdisgusting move\u201d.<\/p>\n
Confusion reigns in the bloc after the Commission responded to Mr Varhelyi\u2019s announcement by bluntly denying any decision had been taken to cut payments, with MEP and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt describing the situation as \u201cchaos\u201d.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s attacks by Hamas militants resulted in the deaths of an estimated 700 Israelis – with Israel responding with airstrikes on Gaza which have so far claimed the lives of an estimated 400 Palestinians.<\/p>\n
In response, Mr Varhelyi, from Hungary, the commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, raised eyebrows with a post on X, formerly Twitter: \u201cThe scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThere can be no business as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> London erupts into chaos as police make arrests near protests at Israeli embassy[VIDEO] <\/strong><\/p>\n As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen was therefore putting its \u201cfull development portfolio\u201d, worth \u00a3597million (\u20ac691million), under review, Mr Varhelyi claimed.<\/p>\n However, his decision was apparently not representative of the Commission as a whole, with a brief statement issued five hours later saying: \u201cThere will be no suspension of payments.\u201d<\/p>\n The EU had pledged \u00a31billion (\u20ac1.18billion) in financial support between 2021 to 2024 in a joint programme for the West Bank and Gaza, controlled by Hamas – but the commission insisted: \u201cThe EU is not funding Hamas or their terrorist activities directly or indirectly.\u201d<\/p>\n The Commission is currently undertaking a review of non-humanitarian aid which will be conducted \u201cas soon as possible\u201d, it added.<\/p>\n Also writing on X, British economist Mujtaba Rahman said it was his understanding that Mr Varhelyi had not consulted any of his colleagues – not even Ms von der Leyen herself – before his announcement, \u201cHence the fallout we have witnessed today on EU’s response to unfolding events in Israel and Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Rahman quoted one unnamed official as saying: \u201cHis move is disgusting.<\/p>\n \u201cVarhelyi has been trying to cut support to the Palestinian Authority for a while now. He took advantage of the situation thinking no one would dare object. Despicable\u201d<\/p>\n Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark and Ireland are all opposed to the suspension of aid, with Spain\u2019s EU minister Jose Manuel Albares to telephone Mr Varhelyi \u201cto express his disagreement\u201d.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Meanwhile Dublin said there was \u201cno legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner\u201d.<\/p>\n Janez Lenarcic, who is the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said: \u201cWhile I most strongly condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas, it is imperative to protect civilians.<\/p>\n \u201cEU humanitarian aid to Palestinians in need will continue as long as needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Verhofstadt was left singularly unimpressed by the apparent lack of cohesion.<\/p>\n He posted on X: \u201cTotal chaos from the Commission\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not so difficult to separate the good from the bad\u2026Let\u2019s instantly sideline all Hamas connections from far or close but by all means, continue humanitarian aid to the ordinary Palestinian people\u2026 who in the end will be twice victimised!\u201d<\/p>\n The German government yesterday announced it was freezing bilateral assistance to the Palestinian territories worth \u00a3108million (\u20ac125million), pending a \u201ccomprehensive\u201d examination, with Austrian halting aid worth \u00a316.4million (\u20ac19million).<\/p>\n Express.co.uk has contacted Mr Varhelyi for comment.<\/p>\nPrime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu's statement on Hamas war<\/h3>\n
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Israel refutes claim it ignored major intel from Egypt about Hamas terror plans[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Israel finally secures border as heavy bombing of Gaza continues[PICTURES] <\/strong>
Iran’s goal is to ‘exhaust’ Israel, says top military adviser[ANALYSIS] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Mujtaba-Rahman-5003593.jpg?r=1696926414155\")
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