The group of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest party in the European Parliament, has rejected the proposal to allocate 15 billion euros for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in the upcoming seven-year budget of the European Union (EU), Politico reports, citing a draft amendment that has become available to it.

Moreover, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen herself had previously repeatedly publicly emphasized that the EU is the largest international donor of aid to the Palestinians, and also announced the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the EU's readiness to participate in its reconstruction.

“Von der Leyen's European People's Party rejected an amendment from the Greens, seen by [Politico] Playbook, to ring-fence €15 billion for Gaza in the next budget,” Politico writes.

According to an MP familiar with the respective talks, the EPP considers it premature to allocate funds until there is a clear plan for the reconstruction of the territory.

At the same time, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the Left, and part of the liberal Renew group are in favor of financing the reconstruction. S&D spokesperson Robert Biedron told Politico that he expects a compromise that ensures a tangible EU contribution to the reconstruction of Gaza.

The European Parliament is set to agree on a shared position on Thursday on the €200 billion Global Europe instrument, which is intended to fund EU external aid in the next seven-year budget.

The final text will most likely no longer include the commitment to allocate a certain amount of money to Gaza, Politico adds.