Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
145. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he and his Department have taken to date to secure the release of Irish citizens in Gaza and those being held hostage by Hamas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50659/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy question relates to Irish citizens in Gaza. I compiled the question two or three weeks ago. The Tánaiste had to reschedule this session. Irish citizens are still in Gaza. There was really good news about Emily Hand, the Irish-Israeli girl who was released. I would like to hear the Tánaiste's thoughts on resolving the issue of Irish citizens who are still in Gaza.
Ensuring the safe exit from Gaza of all Irish citizens who wish to leave, and their accompanying dependants, is a priority of the Government. From the beginning of the crisis, I worked tirelessly to facilitate the necessary clearance from the relevant authorities for Irish citizens to exit Gaza, together with the family members accompanying them. Throughout October and November, I spoke personally by phone with foreign ministers from across the region. In these calls, I underlined the situation of Irish citizens in Gaza and advocated for them to be included in the list for the exit of foreign and dual nationals and their dependants.
I also visited the region during which I met the foreign ministers of Egypt, Israel and Palestine to make the case for our citizens. On 15 November, during my visit to the region, the first group of 23 Irish citizens and dependants exited Gaza. To date, my Department has assisted 56 Irish citizens and dependants to leave Gaza. A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We continue to work consistently with the relevant authorities on these cases.
Turning to the hostages held in Gaza, I was happy to learn of the release of Emily Hand over the weekend. I have been personally touched by Emily's story. I met Tom Hand ahead of my visit to the region, along with members of the Haran and Shoham families, in Dublin. The Government worked consistently for Emily's release, including through extensive contact with regional partners. I am grateful for the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt in securing the agreement that led to the release of hostages. All the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza should be immediately and unconditionally released. Emily’s story has been personal for us all. We heard from Tom about the trauma she has suffered. These individual cases tell of a wider truth. No child should be kidnapped. No child’s home should be violated. No child should suffer the horror of living in a war zone. That is why we must spare no effort to find long-term peace for the region.
I commend the officials, especially those in the Irish embassy in Cairo, who have done a huge amount of work on this. There was a glimmer of hope and humanity at the weekend when Emily Hand was released. Children have paid a terrible price in the past eight weeks, regardless of their nationality. My heart sinks to see any child kidnapped or murdered. A terrible thing is happening. Irish citizens are still in Gaza, in particular Zak Hania. My understanding is that he is not allowed to leave because the Israeli state will not allow him to leave. There is a temporary ceasefire, but it is only temporary. The Israeli state wants to continue its murderous campaign which affects, not only Irish citizens in Gaza, but the whole people of Gaza.
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Clearance to exit Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities, essentially the Israeli and Egyptian authorities which facilitate and process it. These authorities have made it clear to all countries with citizens in Gaza that the focus for facilitating departures from Gaza is on foreign and dual nationals and immediate dependants accompanying them. In line with its consular assistance charter, the remit of my Department is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad and this has been our focus in the past seven weeks.
The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation is dire. Many are seeking to leave, including those who hold a visa for Ireland and others with ties to Ireland. It is not part of my Department's consular remit to provide consular assistance to those holding visas to come to Ireland, but Irish visa holders who receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities may make arrangements to travel to Ireland. We are working with them in that regard.
I am aware of the individual the Deputy mentioned, Zak Hania. I met his family last Friday. It is for us to deal with the authorities and keep at it.
Those who escaped Gaza in recent weeks also have relatives in Gaza. My understanding from the Irish citizens who have escaped Gaza is that the Irish embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs are actively trying to reunite them with some of their relatives, especially those in dire situations. That would be very welcome.
The reaction at the weekend of the Tánaiste's counterpart in Israel, Eli Cohen, to the Taoiseach's tweet was bizarre in how he distorted what the Taoiseach said. The Irish ambassador to Israel was reprimanded. In the past eight weeks, has the Government reprimanded the Israeli ambassador to Ireland for some of the absolutely bizarre things she and her officials have put on social media?
I pay tribute to the embassy in Tel Aviv and our ambassadors in Israel, Egypt and Ramallah and the teams that work with them for the efforts they have made in challenging circumstances, and to the headquarters team in Dublin that coordinates all our efforts to get civilians out. They are in contact at least once a day with Irish citizens who wish to depart. The Department has facilitated the issuing of emergency travel documents to assist departures and engages with the Department of Justice on visas to support dependants who wish to travel to Ireland.
We are aware of three citizens in Gaza who do not wish to receive consular assistance while a fourth was confirmed to have died in Gaza following an air strike on 23 October. He had not previously been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I have had direct engagement with the Israeli authorities. I have given my response publicly to the response of the Israeli foreign minister, Eli Cohen, in respect of the Taoiseach’s tweet and statement. We were surprised by that, but the Irish ambassador in Israel gave a clear and comprehensive account in a competent manner.
But has the Government reprimanded the Israeli ambassador?
