Latest news with #DubravkaŠuica
Daily Tribune
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
EU Announces €1.6 Billion Aid Package for Palestinians Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict
The European Union has unveiled a financial assistance package worth up to €1.6 billion to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) and fund development projects across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The announcement comes as Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza, including a weekend strike on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, which forced the evacuation of patients and left at least one dead during the evacuation process. Under the EU plan, more than one-third of the funding will be allocated as direct budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority over two years. The initiative is aimed at bolstering financial stability, enhancing democratic governance, and improving services to stimulate private sector growth. 'This program is designed to assist the Palestinian people in building a sustainable and secure future,' stated EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. Speaking after talks in Luxembourg with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Šuica stressed that "a well-functioning and reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in the post-conflict governance of Gaza." The package includes over €576 million in grants for projects across various sectors in Palestinian territories and €82 million directed to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). An additional €400 million will be made available to the private sector through low-cost loans. Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed striking Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza, claiming the target was a Hamas command center embedded within the medical facility. Israeli authorities said they had issued evacuation warnings and took steps to minimize civilian harm prior to the attack. Hamas condemned the strike, calling it 'a new war crime' and part of a continued assault on Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. While most hostages have been released through negotiations, 59 remain in captivity, with 24 believed to be still alive. Gaza's Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reports that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
Saudi Gazette
15-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
EU unveils €1.6bln in aid for Palestinian Authority for West Bank, Gaza projects
BRUSSELS — The European Union has unveiled a financial aid package of up to €1.6 billion to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) and fund projects in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The offer comes as Israel expanded its military offensive across Gaza over the weekend. More than a third of the money, to be provided over two years, will come as direct budget support to the PA and is aimed at improving financial sustainability, democratic governance and services to help the private sector develop. "Our program aims to support the Palestinian people in building a sustainable future," said EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. "It's about the governing capacity. It's about advancing economic recovery. It's about strengthening the resilience of the private sector." Speaking to reporters after talks in Luxembourg with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, she said "a well-functioning and reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in the post-conflict governance of Gaza. This is our position." Over €576 million in grants will go to fund projects in several sectors across the Palestinian territories, with €82 million going to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The private sector can benefit from up to €400 million euros in low-cost loans from the EU, the world's largest aid donor to the Palestinians. Meanwhile, on Sunday Israel struck a hospital in northern Gaza, forcing patients to evacuate as attacks intensified across the Strip. Gaza's Health Ministry said the pre-dawn strike hit the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City after Israel issued an evacuation warning. At least one patient died during the evacuation as staff couldn't provide urgent care. Israel said it struck a Hamas command center in the hospital. It also claimed that prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm. Hamas described the Israeli targeting of the hospital as a "new war crime" and said it was part of a series of attacks targeting the health infrastructure in Gaza. The war in Gaza started after Hamas fighters carried out an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. 251 hostages were taken, most of whom have since been released as part of negotiations between the two parties. 59 hostages remain, 24 of which are believed to still be alive. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza but doesn't differentiate between combatants and civilians in its tally. — Euronews a
Jordan News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
EU Grants Palestinians €1.6 Billion - Jordan News
EU Grants Palestinians €1.6 Billion The European Commissioner for Middle East Affairs announced that the European Union plans to increase its financial support to the Palestinian Authority with a package worth around €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) over the next three years. اضافة اعلان Dubravka Šuica, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean region, stated that the financial support will go hand-in-hand with reforms within the Palestinian Authority. 'We want them to reform themselves, because without reform they won't be strong or trustworthy enough for dialogue—not just with us, but also with Israel,' said Šuica. Her comments came ahead of the first 'high-level political dialogue' between EU foreign ministers and senior Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, taking place Monday in Luxembourg. The European Union is the largest donor to the Palestinians, and EU officials hope that the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, may one day assume control over Gaza after the war between Israel and the Hamas movement ends. However, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has so far rejected the idea of transferring control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and has avoided engaging with the EU's broader goal of a two-state solution, which envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. According to Šuica: €620 million will be allocated to financial support and reform of the Palestinian Authority, €576 million will go toward adaptation and recovery in the West Bank and Gaza, and €400 million will be provided as loans from the European Investment Bank, pending approval by its board of directors. She also noted that the EU has provided an average of €400 million annually in support to the Palestinian Authority over the past twelve years. 'We are now investing in the Palestinian Authority in a reliable way,' Šuica added. (Source: Reuters)
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU announces $1.8 billion aid package for Palestinian Authority
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Monday unveiled a financial aid package of up to 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to support the beleaguered Palestinian Authority and fund projects in the West Bank, Jerusalem and war-ravaged Gaza. The offer came as Israel expanded its offensive across Gaza over the weekend. More than a third of the money, to be provided over two years, will come as direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority and it's aimed at improving financial sustainability, democratic governance and services to help the private sector develop. 'Our program aims to support the Palestinian people in building a sustainable future," said EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. 'It's about the governing capacity. It's about advancing economic recovery. It's about strengthening the resilience of the private sector.' Speaking to reporters after talks in Luxembourg with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, she said "a well-functioning and reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in the post-conflict governance of Gaza. This is our position.' Over 576 million euros ($653 million) in grants will go to fund projects in several sectors across the Palestinian territories, with 82 million euros ($93 million) going to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency. The private sector can benefit from up to 400 million euros ($456 million) in low-cost loans from the EU, the world's largest aid donor to the Palestinians.
Washington Post
14-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
EU announces $1.8 billion aid package for Palestinian Authority
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Monday unveiled a financial aid package of up to 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to support the beleaguered Palestinian Authority and fund projects in the West Bank, Jerusalem and war-ravaged Gaza . The offer came as Israel expanded its offensive across Gaza over the weekend. More than a third of the money, to be provided over two years, will come as direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority and it's aimed at improving financial sustainability, democratic governance and services to help the private sector develop. 'Our program aims to support the Palestinian people in building a sustainable future,' said EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica. 'It's about the governing capacity. It's about advancing economic recovery. It's about strengthening the resilience of the private sector.' Speaking to reporters after talks in Luxembourg with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa , she said 'a well-functioning and reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in the post-conflict governance of Gaza. This is our position.' Over 576 million euros ($653 million) in grants will go to fund projects in several sectors across the Palestinian territories, with 82 million euros ($93 million) going to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency . The private sector can benefit from up to 400 million euros ($456 million) in low-cost loans from the EU, the world's largest aid donor to the Palestinians.
