Countries participating in the humanitarian conference on Gaza on Thursday in Paris announced new commitments to provide aid worth more than one billion euros, the French presidency announced.
“The figures relating to the commitments made during the conference are still being drawn up, but it is certain that they will exceed one billion euros”, explains the Elysée.
Much of this aid will be used to meet UN needs to assist residents of Gaza and the West Bank, which is estimated at approximately $1.2 billion until the end of 2023.
During his opening speech at the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron called for “working towards a ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas.
He also said: “In the short term we must work to protect civilians. That is why a rapid humanitarian truce is needed and we must work towards a ceasefire.” “This must become possible,” she added.
While Paris is hosting this conference, to try to provide aid to Gaza, it has become almost impossible to provide aid to the Strip, due to continued Israeli bombing since the Hamas attack on October 7th.
The French president stressed that it is “necessary” to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and that there can be no double standards regarding the protection of human lives. He added: “This is non-negotiable.”
He announced that his country will increase aid to the Gaza Strip from 20 to 100 million euros.
The United Nations estimates the needs of residents of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank at $1.2 billion until the end of 2023, stressing that allowing trucks to enter the Strip is essential for aid delivery.