European Union leaders agreed Friday to direct aid to Palestinians for health care, utilities and social services while still maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government. Acording to the AP, the 25-member bloc said it "stands ready to contribute a substantial amount to the international mechanism," meaning the money would get to ordinary Palestinians but not Hamas.
The EU was considering an initial allocation of about $126 million, spokeswoman Emma Udwin conveyed. According to her the EU wants to have the funding mechanism in place by early July. "We Europeans are determined to play our part in preventing a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
Udwin said she expected final approval from the full Quartet group of Middle East mediators and other donors within days.
