OSLO - Norway, which chairs an international donors group for Palestine, on Wednesday urged the international community to maintain its aid to Palestinians following the Hamas militant group's attack on Israel.
"The situation will only deteriorate further if the international community suspends or reduces its assistance at this critical juncture," Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt told AFP in an email.
After Saturday's bloody attack on Israel, several countries, including Austria, Denmark, Germany and Sweden, announced they were suspending their development aid -- but not humanitarian aid -- to the Palestinians.
"As chair of the international donor group AHLC, Norway encourages the international community to continue its financial assistance to the Palestinian people," Huitfeldt said.
"This includes support to the Palestinian Authority channelled through the World Bank, assistance via international organisations such as the UN system, and support to humanitarian organisations and to the Palestinian civil society." She said Norway was maintaining its aid while "continuously assessing the viability of advancing ongoing projects in Gaza", currently being pounded by heavy artillery strikes by the Israeli army.
"There is no reason to suspect that any financial assistance from Norway has benefited Hamas or affiliated groups," she said - AFP