Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I commend the Minister on his visit. In his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, did the Minister get any sense of embarrassment from the man about the fact that 38% of Gazans live in poverty, 31% of the workforce are unemployed, including 47% of young people, and 54% of the Gazan population suffer from food insecurity? It is a horrific indictment of the situation that continues to prevail there. Did the Minister come away from the meeting with the Prime Minister with any sense of hope for the future?

The Minister speaks, rightly, about a renewed drive within the Foreign Affairs Council to address this issue. Is he optimistic that something can be achieved within a reasonable timeframe?

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