On January 13, 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee TD announced that Ireland will provide €42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine throughout 2026. This commitment, made during a visit to the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, marks an increase from the €36 million provided in 2025 and underscores Ireland’s ongoing support amid the protracted humanitarian crisis in the region.
Of the total amount, €20 million will be allocated as core funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA delivers essential services—including education, healthcare, food aid, shelter, water, and sanitation—to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and across the region. The remaining funds will be distributed during the year based on assessed needs, channeling support through various partners to address urgent priorities such as emergency relief and basic services.
This latest pledge brings Ireland’s cumulative support for the Palestinian people since January 2023 to €144 million by the end of 2026. Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, emphasised that the funding reflects Ireland’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian principles and international law.
The announcement highlights Ireland’s consistent leadership in advocating for civilian protection and access to aid in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Minister McEntee reiterated her condemnation—shared with six fellow European Foreign Ministers—of actions that hinder UNRWA operations, stressing the need for full facilitation of humanitarian work in line with International Court of Justice findings.
Ireland’s aid forms part of its broader Official Development Assistance (ODA) efforts, which reached record levels in 2026.