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Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz reacted to the European Union's (EU) decision to freeze development aid to the Palestinians while the conflict between Israel and Palestine continues, saying, "This decision is a betrayal of Europe's founding principles."

In a post on X, Diaz commented on the EU Commission's decision to freeze development aid payments and review such projects.

Describing the decision as "outrageous", Diaz said it was "a real betrayal of Europe's own founding principles".

Yolanda Diaz called on the Commission to correct the decision, saying that "Europe should lead international action for peace instead of punishing an entire people."

According to local media reports citing diplomatic sources, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares had conveyed his dissatisfaction with the decision to his counterparts in the Commission, pointing out that the decision was taken without consulting member states.

Reactions to the EU decision

EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi announced that they decided to review all development aid to the Palestinians, totaling 691 million euros, and freeze all payments due to Hamas' attacks on Israel.

On the other hand, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid Janez Lenarcic stated that humanitarian aid will continue despite the freeze on development aid.

The decision announced by Varhelyi caused the reaction of some EU member states.

Luxembourg and Ireland expressed their dissatisfaction with the "decision taken without consulting EU members".

The EU Commission's decision to suspend development aid is expected to be on the agenda of the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held tomorrow via video conference.

It is stated that some countries have requested that the issue be put on the agenda.