Joint Statement on the launch of the United Nations Horizon Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories

France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom welcome the creation of the United Nations Horizon Fund.

Together, we intend to make a contribution of $57.8 million to the fund as part of a broader support for the United Nations’ critical role in the occupied Palestinian territory and the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Peace Plan for Gaza. It is also part of the new Team Europe+ Initiative for Early Recovery in Gaza.

The launch of the Fund constitutes a crucial step to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip with the objective of scaling up the early recovery measures to respond to the urgent needs of the civilian population.

The Fund will support UN agencies in their joint and coordinated effort to support early recovery of the occupied Palestinian territory, and in particular the Gaza Strip. Through coordinated UN delivery, it will enable investments in critical sectors including water and sanitation, health, housing, debris clearance and explosive ordnance risk reduction, while helping to revive livelihoods and local economic activity. It will lay the groundwork for a comprehensive and sustainable reconstruction process at scale when conditions allow for it.

The Fund provides a system-wide platform for joint coordination and oversight among UN Agencies and donors and sets guiding principles for the UN operations in Gaza: respect of international law and humanitarian principles, territorial integrity, respect of the fundamental rights of Palestinians and Palestinian ownership.

At a time when severe restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery continue to persist, we reiterate the urgency of rapid, unimpeded and safe humanitarian and early recovery access to the Gaza Strip.

We call on our partners to join this initiative.