Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade noting the recent statement by the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan that the Turkish defence forces will protect Turkish citizens attempting to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza, if he will ensure that Irish citizens attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be protected against hostile forces. [25254/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I continue to regard the blockade of Gaza as unjustified and counter-productive, as I made clear when I addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday in New York. The only real solution is the full opening of the land crossing points between Israel and Gaza. Ireland, along with our EU Partners, continues to press for a full opening up of the border crossings into Gaza to allow unimpeded flows of humanitarian aid, and normal commercial and human traffic, as clearly called for by UN Security Council Resolution 1860 of January 2009. It is also clear that the genuine humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza cannot be met through flotillas or land convoys attempting to bring aid through Egypt. Aid carried to Gaza port or transported through the Rafah crossing can only meet a tiny and symbolic fraction of the territory's needs. The full opening of land crossings is required to enable any semblance of normal life to resume in the territory. I recognise that Israel is entitled to prevent the transport of weapons and genuinely military materials into Gaza, and therefore to check cargoes in this context, but other goods and materials should not be impeded.

I recognise the humanitarian motivations of those attempting to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, as I have previously stated, I cannot encourage participation in any project which would involve Irish citizens engaging in actions which could lead them into real danger. My Department's travel advice is quite clear in recommending against travel to Gaza, including by sea. We also continue to press the Israeli Government to do all possible to facilitate those wishing to transport humanitarian goods to Gaza while my Department will also continue to provide all possible consular services, where necessary.

I would observe that a more effective means of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza would be to do so by donating to UN agencies such as UNRWA, which have established means of transporting aid to Gaza.