Gaza Crisis Appeal FAQs

Why have you launched a Gaza Crisis appeal?

The ongoing conflict and situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Famine is looming, clean water is scarce, and the healthcare system has all but collapsed. Most people have fled from their homes, but there is nowhere safe left to go.

We are witnessing unacceptable and relentless human suffering. We have launched a new appeal to raise funds to support the ongoing response in Gaza.The sheer scale of the response and recovery effort needed to match the needs will require funding for many years to come.

Have you closed the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory appeal?

We are no longer accepting donations to the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory appeal. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has so generously given to it since October 2023.

These donations have helped to support the tremendous work of the National Societies and Movement partners responding to this crisis.

We have now launched a new Gaza Crisis appeal to support the ongoing response in Gaza in the weeks, months and years ahead.

What is the difference between the Gaza Crisis appeal and the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory appeal?

We launched the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory appeal following the devastating attacks in Israel on 7 October, and subsequent escalation in hostilities in Israel and Gaza.

Our support was needed to help communities across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and our appeal name and focus reflected this. The funds we have raised so far have helped to support the tremendous work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent teams on the ground responding to this crisis.

Nine months into this conflict, the unmet humanitarian needs in Gaza are immense. We have launched a new appeal to raise funds to support the ongoing response to the crisis in Gaza. The sheer scale of the response and recovery effort needed to match the needs will require funding for many years to come. Our new appeal reflects this.

What are you doing to help the hostages still being held in Gaza?

The plight of the hostages remains one of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s top priorities. We continue to reiterate what the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said clearly since the outset of this crisis: those taken hostage must be release unconditionally and without delay.

The ICRC has been able to facilitate the release of 109 hostages and has repeatedly requested access to check on their wellbeing, deliver medicines, and allow message exchanges. The lack of access remains a source of deep frustration and grave concern.

Your appeal focuses on Gaza, what about other countries in the region that might be affected by this ongoing conflict?

The appeal name reflects where the humanitarian needs are currently the greatest, but we are aware that this conflict has had, and will continue to have, repercussions across the region, and our support may be required in other areas.

The Red Cross response will continue across the wider region and we will work closely with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Magen David Adom in Israel, the ICRC and other National Societies to support all communities affected by this conflict.

The funds that we raise will be spent in accordance with the need. This includes supporting people in other countries in the region affected by this conflict.

Will funds from your Gaza Crisis appeal go to any response work in Israel?

We are here for humanity, no matter who or where a person in need may be. Decisions on who, how and why we provide support to those suffering are based on where there is need.

Our Gaza Crisis appeal will support people in areas affected and those potentially affected in the future by this crisis. The funds that we raise will be spent in accordance with the need. Right now, the immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza are critical and increasing day by day. That is why our appeal is focused on Gaza. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and needs in Israel, led by our colleagues at Magen David Adom. For now, our focus is on providing ongoing peer to peer support to Magen David Adom but we will always be ready to provide more support or funding if it is needed.

With aid access to Gaza severely restricted, will you be able to deliver the support needed to address the humanitarian needs?

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has so far reached over half of the population with lifesaving aid and medical support. The Palestine Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross are doing all they can to get clean water, food and medical supplies to people.

They continue to work tirelessly to deliver humanitarian assistance, but they face huge challenges. Aid has been reduced to a trickle, with thousands of trucks unable to pass into Gaza.

Since the outset of this crisis, we have been calling for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers and an increased and continuous flow of humanitarian aid. This is needed now, more than ever.

The longer-term needs are also unimaginable. Families are traumatised, homes have been destroyed and there is little to no healthcare system.

Our new Gaza Crisis Appeal reflects this and will help us provide a concerted and ongoing humanitarian response in the many years ahead.