Tánaiste announces additional €20 million for aid agency UNRWA
Kenneth Fox
Tánaiste Simon Harris has announced an additional €20 million in support from Ireland for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides assistance to people in Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestine refugees across the Middle East.
The Government said the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, with at least 47,540 people killed and more than 111,000 injured, the majority of whom were women and children.
Ireland warmly welcomed the hostage release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza and has echoed calls for the return of all hostages to their families. The hostage release and ceasefire deal must be fully implemented in all its phases, they said.
Ireland has provided over €63 million in support of the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023.
Of this, more than €51 million has been provided in assistance since October 2023. The funding has supported the humanitarian response, strengthened education and health services and protected human rights in the region.
Announcing the funding, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “The ceasefire and hostage release deal offers a moment of hope for Palestinians and Israelis."
“The announcement underscores Ireland’s commitment to ensuring there is a significant surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza at this critical time. There is no replacement for the work of UNRWA and it is vital that it is supported."
“UNRWA delivered more than 60 per cent of the supplies that entered Gaza in the first days of the ceasefire.
"It is the only organisation with the scale to deliver and support the restoration of health, social services, and education for more than 300,000 children in Gaza."
“I am gravely concerned about Israeli legislation on UNRWA which entered into force on January 30th. I urge Israel to reconsider these measures and encourage other Governments to support UNRWA with funding at this most critical time so that it can deliver for the millions of Palestinian refugees in need.”
The announcement comes as Israel's defence minister said Ireland is legally obligated to take in Palestinians.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said countries like Ireland, Spain and Norway who have opposed the military operations in Gaza should take in Palestinians and if they don't "their hypocrisy will be exposed."
This comes as Mr Katz said he has instructed the army to prepare plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip in line with President Donald Trump’s proposal for the war-ravaged territory.
Mr Katz said on Thursday that the plan “will include options for exit at land crossings as well as special arrangements for exit by sea and air”.
He said he welcomed Mr Trump’s “bold plan, which could allow a large population in Gaza to leave for various places in the world”.
