The European Commission confirmed today it had temporarily halted aid payments to the Hamas-led Palestinian government pending a decision by European Union foreign ministers next week on future assistance.
The EU's executive arm was adopting "a policy of maximum prudence" so as not to prejudge the ministers' discussion next Monday in Luxembourg, a commission spokeswoman said.
She added that Hamas has not yet met the international community's conditions of recognising Israel, renouncing violence and accepting past peace agreements.
