EU humanitarian support for Palestinians

EU humanitarian financial assistance to Palestinians

The EU has provided humanitarian assistance to help meet the basic needs of the Palestinian people since 2000. In addition, EU member states provide financial assistance from their national budgets.

Additional funding since 7 October 2023

The EU and its member states working as Team Europe have acted quickly to mobilise further humanitarian assistance, which is channelled through humanitarian partners on the ground (international and local humanitarian organisations).

These figures are based on weekly mapping by the Council’s Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA). They were last updated on 23 June 2026.

• Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA)

In-kind assistance to Gaza

In addition to channelling funding through humanitarian partners, the EU is also providing in-kind assistance to Gaza and the region.

The EU has launched a humanitarian air bridge operation to deliver aid to people affected by the crisis. 

As of 3 July 2026, 86 flights have arrived in Gaza and the EU has transported 5 678 tonnes of cargo for Gaza (by either air, sea or road), including medicines, medical supplies, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene items, and educational items on behalf of humanitarian partners, as well as EU-owned stockpile items.

The EU has opened three humanitarian warehouses in Gaza. Several member states have also delivered aid via air drops.

EU humanitarian aid 

The values and principles underlying EU and member states' humanitarian assistance are set out in the European consensus on humanitarian aid, signed in December 2007.

Humanitarian assistance should always be delivered based on assessed needs, and in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

Competence for humanitarian aid is shared between the EU and the member states, as set out in Article 4(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Each member state decides how much funding it wants to provide in response to which crises, or to which humanitarian organisation or fund.

In the Council, the Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) is in charge of issues related to humanitarian assistance.

• Humanitarian aid

Integrated political crisis response (IPCR)

When a crisis or disaster strikes, whether it is natural or human-made, the EU can use several sectoral crisis response mechanisms to deliver aid and help to resolve the situation.

The integrated political crisis response (IPCR) arrangements support rapid and coordinated decision-making at EU political level for major and complex crises.

On 19 October 2023, the Spanish presidency of the Council activated the IPCR arrangements in full mode in relation to the situation in the Middle East. Prior to this, the situation had been being closely monitored.

Since the IPCR was activated in full, frequent meetings have been held within the IPCR framework, under the Spanish and Belgian presidencies, covering a wide range of topics relating to the situation in the Middle East, including:

• humanitarian response
• engagement with partners
• domestic security issues
• consular issues
• potential disruptions in supply chains

• Middle East: Council presidency triggers activation of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (press release, 19 October 2023)

See also

• Humanitarian assistance to Palestinians (European Commission)
• Office of the European Union Representative, West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA (European External Action Service)