Trump Regime Cuts More Aid to Palestinians
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
The Trump regime and most all congressional members one-sidedly support Israel’s killing machine.
They’re uncaring about fundamental Palestinian rights, dismissive about their well-being and safety, partnering with Israel’s high crimes of war and against humanity – Occupied Palestine a virtual battleground, blockaded Gaza most of all.
Trump regime hardliners slashed essential to life humanitarian aid to long-suffering Palestinians in deference to Netanyahu regime harshness.
Earlier this year, they cut over $300 million in UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid, providing vital services for millions of Palestinian refugees.
Under the so-called Taylor Force Act, US funds to Palestinians were cut by the amount the PLO pays to families of Palestinian political prisoners, individuals falsely called “terrorists” by the Netanyahu regime.
Most US funding to the PA goes for serving as Israel’s enforcer. Cutting any of it means Palestinians receiving aid will get less or nothing.
At the same time, Washington under Republicans and undemocratic Dems provides Israel’s killing machine with billions of dollars in largely military aid annually – used for occupation harshness, terror-bombing Syria, and other aggression.
On Friday, the Trump regime cut another $200 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians – funds to be used for so-called “high priority projects elsewhere,” according to the State Department, saying:
Per Trump’s order, “we have undertaken a review of US assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with US national interests and provide value to the US taxpayers,” adding:
“As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million… originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza.”
“This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza’s citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation.”
The Trump and Netanyahu regimes are complicit in waging slow-motion genocide against defenseless Palestinians, falsely blaming US/Israeli high crimes on Hamas.
The PA called the latest Trump regime harshness “cheap blackmail as a political tool.”
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashwari said “(t)he rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale.”
“There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation. The US administration has already demonstrated meanness of spirit in its collusion with the Israeli occupation and its theft of land and resources.”
“Now it is exercising economic meanness by punishing the Palestinian victims of this occupation.”
The Trump and Netanyahu regimes are trying to pressure, intimidate, and bully Palestinians into formally abandoning their fundamental rights by agreeing to a no-peace/peace deal no responsible leadership would touch – as well as going along with the Trump regime’s illegal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s exclusive capital.
Essential services in blockaded Gaza are close to shutting down entirely for lack of enough humanitarian aid to keep them operating – including for medical and sanitation facilities, along with virtually everything else needed for health and well-being.
According to UN deputy special coordinator for the no-peace/peace process, and humanitarian coordinator for Occupied Palestine Jamie McGoldrick:
“We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days.”
“Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend, or heavily reduce, operations from early September, with potentially grave consequences.”
Food supplies are inadequate, little potable water available, healthcare gravely comprised. Shortages of everything make delivering it gravely compromised.
Without fuel for pumping stations, most Gazans are at risk from raw sewage toxins contaminating their surroundings.
UNWRA schools will have to close at end of September for lack of funding. PLO official Husam Zomlot blasted Trump regime harshness, calling it further “confirmation (of) fully embracing Netanyahu’s anti-peace agenda,” adding:
“Weaponizing humanitarian and developmental aid as political blackmail does not work.”
The PA suspended formal contact with the Trump regime months ago over its illegal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s exclusive capital and its de facto opposition to Palestinian self-determination.
Trump lied saying they’ll be something “very good” for Palestinians by going along with his (no-peace) peace plan – calling for unconditional surrender to Israeli demands, including the abandonment of East Jerusalem as its exclusive capital.
His toughness is all about serving Israeli interests at the expense of Palestinian rights he doesn’t give a damn about.
The tougher he gets, the less he’s able to sway Palestinians to go along with his demands.
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