Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am appalled by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the scale of civilian casualties with more than 18,000 people killed and approximately 1.9 million people or 85% of the population displaced. The Government utterly condemned the heinous attacks by Hamas on 7 October, which saw 1,200 Israelis brutally killed. The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for an increase in humanitarian access and for the protection of civilians. Hostages held by Hamas in Gaza must also be released immediately and unconditionally.

I welcome the outcome of the vote in the UN General Assembly on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Ireland was in a group of 17 EU member states to vote in favour. It is encouraging to see such overwhelming support among the international community for this resolution.I am grateful to UN Secretary-General Guterres for his leadership throughout this crisis. The Taoiseach is attending a meeting of EU leaders today where this is one of the issues to be discussed. He will call on EU leaders to insist on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Irish Aid funding to the Palestinian people, including in both the West Bank and Gaza, amounted to over €61 million in the period 2021 to 2023. We provided almost €17 million in 2021, another €17 million in 2022 and €36 million in 2023 in support to the occupied Palestinian territory and support to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA. During this time, Ireland's programme of assistance focused on targeted interventions seeking to maintain the space for a two-state solution. Ireland is a long-standing and committed supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the near east. UNRWA delivers essential services, including in education and health to a population of some 5.7 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. In March 2021, Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding with UNRWA pledging predictable funding of €6 million per year over the course of 2021 to 2023. In practice, Ireland has provided significantly more than €6 million per year to UNRWA. In response to developments, we have provided a total of €35 million to UNRWA for the three years 2021 to 2023. This year alone, we have provided €18 million, including €10 million in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks and the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Ireland also supports the core humanitarian work by the UN in the occupied territory, which includes monitoring and reporting on the humanitarian situation, advocating for humanitarian access, the protection of humanitarian space and respect for international humanitarian law. Ireland also supports the occupied territories humanitarian fund, a pooled funding mechanism designed to allocate funds quickly for unexpected emergencies or unforeseen events. Ireland’s total funding to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Palestine since 2021 amounts to €6 million, of which €4.445 million was provided to assist in the response to the humanitarian emergency in Gaza in the aftermath of 7 October.

Education is a key focus of Ireland’s work in Palestine, and is crucial to Palestine’s long-term economic viability. In the past three years, Ireland has provided €9 million in total to a joint financing arrangement, JFA, which supports the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education in strengthening the quality and accessibility of the education system, improving capacity and providing equitable access to quality education for Palestinian children. The JFA is considered one of the most effective means of donor support in Palestine.

In the field of higher education, the Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme continued to run successfully from over the past three years. Over this time period, 60 fellows from the West Bank and Gaza were awarded fellowships to study on a master's programme in Ireland for one year, including 22 this year.

Ireland is committed to funding for the Palestinian people which addresses basic needs, supports international organisations and provides for a better future for all. Our commitment in current circumstances is more needed than ever before.