More than 1‘200 people were killed and over 200 people were abducted during the attack by the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas on Israel on October 7th in 2023. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a complete blockade of the Palestinian territories. As a result, the humanitarian situation of the people in Gaza worsened significantly.

Thousands of civilians were killed, among them many children. More than ten thousand people have been injured and several hundred thousand followed the evacuation orders of the Israeli army and fled to the south. However, hardly any accommodations or relief supplies are available there. The UN needs a total of 294 million US dollars for its planned aid programme. The money is to be used to provide around 1.3 million people with food, shelter, cash, medical aid, sanitary facilities, protection and education.

Liechtenstein contributes through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which remains neutral towards the conflicting parties and independently provides humanitarian aid. The ICRC fulfils a variety of tasks, such as supporting the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza. The ICRC visits prisoners of war, participates in negotiations for the release of hostages and prisoners of war, monitors compliance with international humanitarian law and maintains a dialogue with the conflicting parties. Liechtenstein thus prioritises international humanitarian law through its aid, without supporting Hamas or taking a one-sided position in the conflict.