IRELAND WILL COMMIT millions of Euro in aid for Gaza in the coming months, Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet today.

In an update to ministers on the peace plan for the region, Harris will tell colleagues that it is likely Ireland will also ultimately commit funding for the reconstruction of Gaza.

For now, work is underway on a further substantial aid package from Ireland. 

This follows on from an announcement yesterday that the government will provide an additional €6 million in humanitarian aid for people in Gaza as UN and humanitarian agencies prepare to ramp up aid supplies following the ceasefire.

Yesterday, US Donald Trump told the Israeli parliament that the ceasefire he helped broker in Gaza has ushered in the “historic dawn of a new Middle East”.

The US president addressed the Knesset hours after Hamas released the 20 living hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of imprisoned Palestinians as part of the fragile ceasefire that was agreed last week. 

As the focus turns to next steps, Harris will tell Cabinet that 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.

Developments in the Middle East in recent days represent a “major breakthrough”, Harris will tell ministers, who will also add that this is “finally an opportunity to ease the immense suffering of the people of Gaza who have endured untold horrors”.

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

This includes €20 million in core support to UNRWA this year, which brings Irish support to €58 million since 2023.

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The €6 million announced yesterday will be allocated to Ireland’s UN partners:

• €2 million to UNICEF
• €2 million to OCHA
• €1 million to the World Food Programme
• €1 million to the World Health Organisation.

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.

It includes 750 tents from Ireland’s humanitarian stocks and 750 from EU humanitarian stocks