Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
204. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will instruct his Department to advocate for the opening of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza in light of the renewed attacks by Israel in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19224/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he is taking to put pressure on the Israeli government to ensure humanitarian aid enters Gaza immediately. [20726/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 231 together.
Since October 2023, Ireland has provided over €75 million in support to the Palestinian people, together with 116 tonnes of relief supplies for people in Gaza.
On 2 March, the Israeli authorities announced that they would block humanitarian aid entering Gaza. No assistance has been allowed in the eight weeks since then, which is pushing Gaza closer to a hunger crisis. Aid provided by Ireland is impeded by the same restrictions affecting all humanitarian aid to Gaza. The scale of humanitarian need is enormous, and the situation has been exacerbated by interruptions in the flow of aid and the wider disruption caused by the conflict. The Government continues to call on Israel to facilitate the immediate and full resumption of rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza.
Ireland condemns the resumed Israeli military operations, which are bringing fresh suffering to the people of Gaza. We urge all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. All commitments should be implemented in full.
In the current context, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a standing agenda point on the Foreign Affairs Council. At the April Foreign Affairs Council, I highlighted the hunger crisis developing in Gaza, and reiterated our call for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza and the further release of hostages. I stressed this point again during the High-Level Dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, held in the margins of the April Foreign Affairs Council.
UNRWA has been the backbone of the humanitarian response in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland is gravely concerned about the implementation of Israeli legislation, which has far-reaching consequences for UNRWA’s operations, and continues to urge the Israeli authorities to repeal these measures. Ireland has provided €20 million in core support to UNRWA this year, which brings our support to €58 million since 2023. Despite the blockade, UNRWA continues to deliver assistance in accordance with its mandate, including psychological support to over 300,000 children, as well as other health and education interventions. We support UNRWA’s stance to stay and deliver. Ireland’s support to the UN pooled fund of the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Gaza has also ensured that some aid has reached those in need.
Ireland’s engagement on the conflict in the Middle East is guided by respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and unwavering support for the two-State solution. Across all our bilateral and multilateral engagement, Ireland has consistently underlined the need for all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law.
We are in parallel working with international partners to step up efforts to implement the two-State solution, including through a recent meeting with European and Arab leaders in Antalya, Türkiye on 11 April, and through meetings of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which will meet again next month in Morocco.
Ireland is using all the tools at its disposal- political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian- in response to this dreadful conflict. The resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and at scale, is an immediate focus in this context.
