The European Commission has decided Monday, October 9, to suspend all development projects and aid programs benefiting Palestinians following the Hamas offensive on Israel. 

“There can be no business as usual”, said in a tweet Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement. “All payments [are] immediately suspended”, he added. 

Worth a total of € 691 million, the European Commission’s development programs in Palestine include providing access to water and energy, job creation as well as funding for civil society organizations. 

The decision to collectively punish Palestinians follows Israel’s decision to cut access to electricity in Gaza as the Israeli army started bombing the strip in retaliation to the October 7 attacks. 

The offensive, led by the armed branch of Hamas, Al Qassam Brigades and labeled “Al Aqsa Flood, has killed at least 800 Israelis and left over 2200 wounded. Over 100 people, both military and civilian, were taken as prisoners of war. 

This most violent attack on Israeli territory has caused Israel to declare a state of war. The following Israeli bombings in Gaza have killed at least 510 people and over 2700 wounded. According to several reports, a ground invasion of the Gaza strip is in the works.