EU approves €120m in aid for Palestinians

The European Union agreed today to provide £82.1m (€120.4m) in urgent aid for Palestinians before a Palestinian government takes office, led by Hamas, a group the European Union considers a terrorist organisation.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said the funds were required to avoid “economic chaos” from paralysing the Palestinian Authority.

Officials said the aid package comprises £27.5m (€40.3m) to pay for the Palestinian Authority’s energy and other utility bills, £42.6m (€62.5m) for health and education projects and £12m (€17.6m) to help the authority pay its employees.