The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, has announced a €4 million funding package aimed at supporting children in Palestine, particularly in the area of education. The package includes €3 million dedicated to improving access to education, €700,000 for human rights organisations, and €300,000 to support public services and vulnerable families.
The education-focused funding will be used to facilitate teacher training, supply school materials, and carry out the rehabilitation of damaged school buildings. These efforts are designed to ensure continued learning opportunities for children affected by the ongoing conflict in the region.
With this latest commitment, Ireland’s total support to Gaza and Palestine reaches €26 million for the year, and nearly €80 million since October 2023. The support is part of Ireland’s longstanding partnership with Palestine and includes continued backing for UNRWA, which delivers remote learning to nearly 300,000 children in Gaza.
In addition to education, the funding will assist human rights groups operating under challenging conditions and help maintain essential public services. Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, emphasized that Ireland is also working with the European Union to support the Palestinian Authority, ensuring that public services continue despite the escalating humanitarian crisis.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over displacement and violence, particularly in the West Bank, where more than 40,000 people have been displaced since the launch of a military operation in January. Irish officials stress the importance of maintaining international attention on the crisis and supporting the rights and welfare of affected civilians.
