Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 March 2025
6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the outcomes of recent discussions between Ireland and the United Nations concerning the facilitation and delivery of food aid to Gaza, especially in light of the severe restrictions reported by humanitarian organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/25]
View answer7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures has Ireland advocated for at EU level to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, into Gaza, considering the blockades preventing the delivery of much needed supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/25]
View answer13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is continuous contact at political and official level with international organisations, including the United Nations and the European Union, concerning the appalling atrocities inflicted on innocent people in Gaza; and also concerning the blocking of essential aid from delivery into Gaza taking into account recent comments of a UN Official where it was stated “for two weeks now, our food supplies are rotting at the borders, the medicines are expiring, the water’s been cut off, the power’s been cut off - and all that to punish civilians further”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 13 together.
We have condemned the resumed Israeli airstrikes and ground operation which are bringing fresh suffering to civilians in 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.
The Government has called on Israel to facilitate the immediate, full resumption of rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza. The scale of humanitarian need and the level of destruction is enormous and has been accentuated by the interruption in the flow of aid. The UN has set out its Flash Appeal for Palestine for 2025, estimating that at least $6.6 billion is required to address just the humanitarian needs of 3.3 million people across the Occupied Territory.
Since October 2023, Ireland has contributed over €72 million in support to the Palestinian people, including funding to UNRWA, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme and others. We have provided €58 million to UNRWA alone since the beginning of 2023. Ireland’s support also includes the delivery of over 116 tonnes of relief supplies through our rapid response initiative and direct support to the Jordan Hashemite Charitable Organisation for the deployment of aid in to Gaza.
The EU has also significantly increased humanitarian assistance to Gaza since 2023, including the latest aid package from the European Commission in January, amounting to €120 million.
Ireland’s engagement on Palestine is guided by the need for 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.
The Government is engaging actively at Ministerial and official level with the EU and with UN partners, focusing on the need to continue to press for unhindered humanitarian access. At the EU-Israel Association Council in February, the Tánaiste expressed grave concern about the catastrophic situation and underlined the EU’s call for full access for humanitarian aid. He also emphasised that UNRWA is indispensable to the provision of services to Palestinian refugees and expressed concern about Israeli legislation that has the effect of preventing UNRWA from fulfilling its vital mandate and undermining fundamental rights and freedoms.
