Ireland will have to commit millions more to Gaza, Cabinet to hear

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Ireland will have to commit millions of euro in further aid for Gaza in the coming months, the Cabinet will be told.

Tánaiste Simon Harris is to update Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday about a “substantial aid package” to Gaza from Ireland.

It comes after he announced an additional €6 million to aid organisations in Gaza on Monday, including UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme.

Ireland has joined the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a group established in response to the urgent and unprecedented financial crisis confronting the PA.

It is likely that in addition to the immediate aid package, Ireland will also ultimately commit funding for the reconstruction of Gaza.

It is understood the Tánaiste will tell ministers that developments in the Middle East in recent days represent a “major breakthrough” and that now there is “finally an opportunity to ease the immense suffering of the people of Gaza who have endured untold horrors”.

Overall, Ireland has provided more than €95 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023, of which more than €83 million has been provided since October of that year.

This includes €20 million in core support to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) this year, which brings Irish support to €58 million since 2023.

The Tánaiste will also inform ministers that a consignment of 1,500 tents is being loaded by the International Organisation for Migration in Amman, Jordan for delivery to Gaza in the coming days.

This includes 750 tents from Ireland’s humanitarian stocks and 750 from EU humanitarian stocks.