Brian Brennan
Ceist:154. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding continuing Government support to Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23043/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 March 2026
Ceisteanna (154)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland is gravely concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, and remains focused on the situation in Palestine. Ireland is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza and advance a just and sustainable peace plan. I spoke with my Palestinian counterpart, Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin in recent weeks, and assured her of Ireland’s full support to the Palestinian people.
Ireland continues to have grave concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and is concerned that in the midst of the current conflict, Israel is further tightening restrictions on the Strip. A key focus of the international community must be on ensuring humanitarian aid is delivered into and throughout Gaza at scale. Ireland calls on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip. Border crossings should remain open where at all possible. I raised this at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Councils in January and February. Ireland also raised these issues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 March.
In January, I announced that Ireland will provide €42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine in 2026, including €20 million in core funding to support the work of UNRWA. This funding represents an increase from 2025, when a total of €36 million was provided.
Ireland is very clear that international NGOs form a vital part of the humanitarian delivery capacity in Gaza and the West Bank. I am closely following the issue of Israeli deregistration of international NGOs in the occupied Palestinian territory and have called for the reversal of this measure.
Ireland will continue to use all the tools at its disposal – political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian – to support the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination through the two-State solution. This is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for Israel and Palestine and the wider region.