Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
102. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he or his Department learnt first of the potential release date of Irish citizens from Gaza; and who informed he and his Department. [51165/23]
View answerSince the beginning of the crisis, thousands of foreign and dual nationals have been seeking to leave Gaza. The Rafah border crossing first opened for the exit of foreign and dual nationals on 1 November, though it has subsequently been closed or disrupted on several occasions. Since then, a daily list of individuals cleared to cross is published by the relevant authorities. The evacuation of foreign and dual national and their accompanying dependants has been managed by the relevant authorities, country by country, on a phased basis.
The Department of Foreign Affairs was made aware on Tuesday, 14 November about the possibility of clearance being given for the exit of Irish citizens and dependants from Gaza on subsequent days. This information came via contacts with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities through our Embassies in Tel Aviv and Cairo. Late on 14 November, the first Irish citizens and dependants names appeared on the list of those cleared to exit Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing on the following day.
To date, 51 Irish citizens and dependants have exited Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing. They were met by staff from the Irish Embassy in Cairo, who have provided consular assistance and support, including with onward travel to Ireland. The majority of these citizens and dependants arrived in Ireland over the weekend, many of them to be reunited with family.
A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We will continue to work consistently with the relevant authorities on additional cases where these arise and to assist in instances where other Irish citizens and dependants wish to exit Gaza.
