The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli blockade, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1860, is a matter of long-standing concern. In particular, I am deeply concerned by reports that over 1 million children in Gaza today have constrained access to essential services, including food, water, education and health care.
I welcome that Ireland’s programme of development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people is making a positive contribution to improving the lived reality on the ground, including in relation to areas raised in the article to which the Deputy refers.
Ireland has been supporting the redress of the critical infrastructure gap in Gaza since 2019, by funding the development of a solar power plant to provide clean and reliable energy to power the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment Plant. Significantly, this project represents the first time that land in the Access Restricted Area has been made available for infrastructure and follows extensive engagement by Ireland’s diplomatic network with the Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Authority.
However, it remains clear that the roots of the problems in Gaza are political and cannot be solved by funding alone. In this regard, Ireland has consistently called for the lifting of the blockade so that normal life and normal economic activity can resume, including throughout its term on the UN Security Council.
