Japan Announces $167 Million Support Package for Palestine, Including $10 Million in Direct Budget Aid

The Japanese Ambassador to the State of Palestine, Araki Katsuhiko, announced a new support package from the Japanese government totaling $167 million, including $10 million in direct financial assistance to the Palestinian budget as part of Japan’s supplementary budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The announcement was made during a meeting with Palestinian Minister of Finance and Planning Istifan Salameh at the Ministry of Finance headquarters.

Ambassador Katsuhiko said $30 million of the package will fund development projects and capacity-building programs, while the remaining funds will support humanitarian initiatives in various governorates, with a particular focus on the Gaza Strip. The assistance is intended to back a comprehensive ceasefire plan, enhance the delivery of humanitarian and relief services, support early recovery and reconstruction efforts, and strengthen Palestinian state institutions.

The package covers a broad range of sectors, including health, water and sanitation, food security, waste management, and early recovery programs such as debris removal. The ambassador emphasized Japan’s continued commitment to supporting the Palestinian people during these challenging times and contributing to stability and sustainable development in Palestine. Minister Salameh welcomed the support, highlighting Japan’s role in addressing the urgent financial and humanitarian challenges caused by the continued withholding of clearance revenues and reaffirming the deep historical ties between the two countries.