Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Embarrassment is not the word that comes to mind to describe the response of Mr. Netanyahu to the issues I raised. However, I made it clear to him and to the other Israeli leaders I met that Ireland is very much opposed to the blockade of Gaza, which clearly has a major impact from a humanitarian point of view and also for families and businesses as well as the Gazan economy. I also drew his attention to the fact that the blockade is counterproductive, in that there is a thriving black market within Gaza. Those who are most undermined at an economic level by the blockade are those who are trying to conduct legitimate businesses, as well as the UN agencies that are trying to reconstruct Gaza. I learned, from UNRWA in particular, of the extent to which the blockade is affecting people's daily lives and the impact it has on food security. I visited a food distribution centre and saw the great work that is being done in distributing food supplies and also the major human need for access to food supplies of a very basic nature.

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