Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
6. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will work with like-minded countries in the EU, or elsewhere, to organise an airdrop of emergency food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza who are being bombed, shelled, starved and besieged by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10892/24]
View answerI am appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza – after almost five months of relentless violence and displacement, civilians in Gaza are living in conditions that no one should have to endure.
The legal position is clear – under international humanitarian law Israel are responsible for the protection of civilians in Gaza, and ensuring that the essential needs of the population there are met. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is man-made and is completely unacceptable.
Along with a number of other states, Jordan has been leading on organising air drops of humanitarian assistance into Gaza with a number of other states. We are actively considering the possibility of Ireland contributing to this multinational effort.
However, this must not distract from the urgent need to dramatically scale up the level of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza by land. The International Court of Justice made clear in its order for provisional measures on 26 January that Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
That was more than a month ago; since that time, humanitarian assistance entering Gaza by land has halved and WFP and UNRWA have had to withdraw from distributing aid in Northern Gaza given the deterioration of the security situation. Under international humanitarian law, Israel has the responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza and to ensure that the essential needs of the population there are met.
Full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and massive scale up in humanitarian aid is Ireland’s priority, and is the priority of all humanitarian actors on the ground, and must remain our primary focus. Air drops alone can not deliver this.
