EU allocates $130.4m humanitarian aid package for Gaza

The European Union (EU) announced today the allocation of a €120 million ($130.4 million) humanitarian aid package to support Palestinians in Gaza as the region continues to suffer under Israel’s ongoing military onslaught.

In a statement, the EU confirmed that the package aims to address the critical humanitarian needs in Gaza, following meetings in Brussels between Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and EU officials.

This funding comes as part of the EU’s broader efforts to provide urgent assistance to the Palestinian territories. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation in Gaza as “dire”, stating that while “the ceasefire agreement and the release of detainees represent a much-needed glimmer of hope in the region, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire.”

The aid package includes food assistance aimed at addressing acute food insecurity and malnutrition, support for healthcare facilities to sustain operations and replenish medical supplies and initiatives to improve water and sanitation services, ensuring access to clean water and safe hygiene practices.

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It also provides resources for safe shelters to accommodate Palestinians displaced by Israel’s recent bombing campaign.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, who also participated in the talks, emphasised the urgency of the situation and announced plans to visit the Palestinian territories soon to assess conditions firsthand and coordinate further aid efforts. “We discussed the immense needs in Gaza and the West Bank and the ways to address them,” he said.

With this latest aid package, the European Union’s total humanitarian assistance to Gaza since 2023 exceeds €450 million ($489 million), in addition to an airlift operation that has delivered over 3,800 tonnes of essential supplies.

In a statement, the EU further reiterated its commitment to collaborating with local and international partners to ensure the swift and effective delivery of aid to vulnerable communities in Gaza.

“The EU will remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people,” stated Von der Leyen. She added that the 2025 package also includes hundreds of tonnes of in-kind assistance to maintain aid efforts and help meet the urgent needs of Gaza’s population.

The Israeli onslaught has decimated the enclave, left widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of nearly 50,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

EU member states have been among Israel’s staunchest allies during its bombing of Gaza, which UN experts and rights groups have called a genocide. With Germany sharply increasing its export of arms to Israel from August onwards. In 2023, Germany was responsible for 47 per cent of Israel’s total imports of conventional arms — second only to the US — according to data published by investigative outlet Forensic Architecture from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).