Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a doctor (details supplied) who has worked in Gaza medical facilities for over 15 years, and in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital during Israel’s recent 51-day assault, has been refused entry to Gaza by the Israeli authorities; and if he will raise this issue with the Israeli authorities and ask them to reverse their decision. [44982/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The case in question has not previously been raised with my Department.

The devastating humanitarian impact of the recent conflict in Gaza continues to be felt on the ground. It compounded an already serious humanitarian situation. In this bleak context, access for humanitarian workers, including doctors and health workers, is all the more important.

Initial media reports had suggested that the individual mentioned had been indefinitely banned from entering Gaza. Following official representations from the Norwegian Government, it now appears that the individual concerned has been indefinitely banned from entering Israel, rather than the Gaza Strip. There are suggestions that the reason for this ban may be attributable to the individual concerned having signed a letter during the recent conflict which strongly criticised Israeli actions. If this is the reason, exclusion of a doctor on this basis would not appear in any way justified, and I would call on Israel to reconsider its refusal to allow entry to the medical professional in question for the purpose of their travelling on to Gaza.

The option of attempting to enter Gaza from Egypt also remains open, of course.