Mr. Jim Clarken:

Oxfam has been working in Gaza for decades and we have been there throughout the conflict. We were in a position to support 1.2 million people up to the time the borders were closed and all access was stopped. We have millions upon millions of dollars and euro worth of aid on the border waiting to enter the country and it is not being allowed, obviously. Worse than that, this Israeli Government aid development agency, backed by the US, has clearly, as we said, not functioned. Worse than that, it has been very dangerous. Many people have been killed, shot dead. It is not delivering aid, and we would argue that it may never have been intended to do so. We need Ireland to continue to advocate and really push hard. The situation on the ground is extremely dire. The population is on the verge of famine. I have referred to this before but I apologise for repeating-----