The United Kingdom has joined seven other European nations in welcoming the establishment of the United Nations Horizon Fund for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a new initiative designed to tackle the severe humanitarian crisis and facilitate early recovery in the region, particularly the Gaza Strip. The fund, launched on 13 July 2026, has received an initial collective commitment of $57.8 million (approximately £45.5 million) from the participating countries.
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK are the nations behind this significant financial pledge. Their contribution forms part of a wider international effort to bolster the United Nations' crucial role in the region and align with the objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Peace Plan for Gaza. It also integrates with the new Team Europe+ Initiative for Early Recovery in Gaza, highlighting a coordinated international response.
The primary goal of the Horizon Fund is to address the catastrophic humanitarian conditions currently prevailing in the Gaza Strip. It aims to scale up early recovery measures to meet the urgent needs of the civilian population. Through coordinated UN delivery, the fund will channel investments into vital sectors such as water and sanitation, health services, housing, and the critical tasks of debris clearance and explosive ordnance risk reduction. Furthermore, it seeks to revive livelihoods and stimulate local economic activity, setting the stage for a more comprehensive and sustainable reconstruction process once conditions permit.
This new fund establishes a system-wide platform for joint coordination and oversight among UN agencies and donor countries. It also outlines key guiding principles for UN operations in Gaza, emphasising adherence to international law and humanitarian principles, respect for territorial integrity, the fundamental rights of Palestinians, and Palestinian ownership of the recovery process. The participating nations underscored the ongoing severity of restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery and reiterated the urgent need for rapid, unimpeded, and safe access for both humanitarian assistance and early recovery efforts into the Gaza Strip.
The UK's involvement in this fund underscores its continued commitment to humanitarian aid and stability in the Middle East. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regularly updates its travel advice for the region, cautioning against all travel to Gaza and advising British nationals in the surrounding areas to monitor security developments closely. The UK government has consistently called for adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.