The Swiss government said on Wednesday it would commit 23 million Swiss francs to support the United States-backed peace plan for Gaza, bringing its total humanitarian contribution there to 150 million francs since October 2023.
The ruling Swiss Federal Council said 17.5 million francs would be allocated to humanitarian aid for Gaza and the needs of children, and another 5.5 million francs to strengthen Palestinian institutions, mostly via the Palestinian Authority.
The Federal Council said that despite an increase in aid following an October 10 ceasefire, needs on the ground in Gaza remain "immense," noting that restrictions continue to limit the population's access to some goods.
Ongoinb aid efforts in Gaza
On Monday, the US-and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced it was ending its operations after having delivered over 187 million free meals to Gazan civilians during its mission.
The US was considering a proposal for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza that would replace GHF, according to a copy of the plan seen by Reuters on October 23.
In July, Switzerland initiated proceedings to dissolve the Geneva branch of the GHF, citing legal shortcomings in its establishment.
The ESA told Reuters in July that the GHF had not met certain legal requirements, including having the required number of board members, a postal address, and a Swiss bank account.
Amichai Stein and James Genn contributed to this report.