The European Union and the Italian government announced a joint financial contribution of €23 million to the Palestinian Authority, allocated to cover the costs of medical referrals to East Jerusalem hospitals.

According to a statement issued by the European Union on Wednesday, this contribution comes within the framework of direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority's budget, with the European Union allocating €22 million, while Italy contributed €1 million.

"Through this contribution, the European Union and its Member States reaffirm their commitment to ensuring access to essential healthcare for all Palestinians, at a time when the health system is suffering from the effects of the war in Gaza and rising tensions in the West Bank," said Alexander Stutzmann, the European Union Representative to Palestine.

Stutzman called for "reopening the crossings to deliver urgent medical supplies to Gaza and facilitating the transfer of critically ill patients to East Jerusalem hospitals."

According to the statement, this contribution will enable the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its financial obligations to East Jerusalem hospitals, which are facing increasing pressures due to the prevailing circumstances and deteriorating economic conditions. It will also ensure the continued provision of specialized medical care to Palestinian patients in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in light of the severe shortage of services in public hospitals.

For his part, the Italian Consul General in Jerusalem, Domenico Bellato, said, "This contribution comes at a critical moment when the Palestinian health system is under great pressure," noting the importance of the PEGASE mechanism in enabling patients to access high-quality medical services in East Jerusalem, which are currently lacking in West Bank facilities.

Most of the European Union's assistance to the Palestinian Authority is managed through the PEGASE mechanism, launched in 2008 to support reforms and national development plans. It includes funding for salaries, social assistance, and medical referrals. Total funding provided through this mechanism has reached over €3 billion to date.