"Those who commit such acts do so to the detriment of the Palestinians," EU official says.
By HERB KEINONEU last(photo credit: IDF)
The EU on Sunday condemned attempts to smuggle chemicals used to make explosives into the Gaza Strip in bags marked as humanitarian aid from the European Commission.
"We condemn any abuse of any humanitarian aid for non-humanitarian purposes, and those who commit such acts do such to the detriment of the Palestinians," an EU diplomatic official said.
"If this was an attempt to misuse the name of the EU or European Commission it would be an isolated criminal act and we condemn it," the official said. "But this criminal act cannot put into question the efforts by the EU to provide aid that is vital for the most vulnerable Palestinians."
The IDF released a statement Saturday saying a truck carrying 6.5 tons of potassium nitrate, a substance banned because it is used to manufacture explosives and Kassam rockets, had been stopped at a crossing in the West Bank. The statement said the potassium nitrate was disguised in sugar bags that were marked as humanitarian aid provided by the EU.
According to the statement, the chemicals were intended for use by terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The statement said this was "another example of how the terror organizations exploit the humanitarian aid that is delivered to the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip with Israel's approval."
The EU official, however, said the bags could not be confused with bona fide EU aid for several reasons: the EU does not export sugar as part of its aid to the Palestinians and food assistance to the PA - funneled through UNRWA or the World Food Program - clearly carries the 12-star symbol of the EU and the name of the European Commission on the bags.
The IDF released photos of the sacks, which had "EEC 2 Sugar Exported From EU" printed on them in bold black letters.
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