Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I travelled to the region from 14-16 November as part of the Government’s continuing and intensive engagement on the current crisis in Israel and Gaza. A key focus was the situation of Irish citizens in Gaza and the case of an Irish citizen who is believed to be held hostage in Gaza.

My engagements during the visit also provided an opportunity to repeat my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, to underline the need for urgent and meaningful humanitarian access to Gaza, and to stress the urgency of de-escalation.

I had a substantive discussion in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry. I expressed our appreciation for Egypt’s help with the exit of our citizens from Gaza. We spoke about the ongoing crisis, and the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and rapid, unimpeded humanitarian supplies of water, food, fuel, and medical supplies. While in Cairo I also met with League of Arab States Secretary General Aboul Gheit.

I travelled to Ramallah in the occupied Palestinian territory and expressed my sympathy to the Palestinian people over civilian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank to Prime Minister Shtayyeh. We discussed the role the international community must play in the path to peace and Ireland’s support for the two State solution. I also met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Malki in Ramallah.

I also visited southern Israel and witnessed the devastation caused by the 7th of October attack in Sderot and Kibbutz Be’eri, where Emily Hand was taken hostage. I met Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen and expressed my grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. I also met President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, during which I stressed the urgent need to dramatically increase the supply of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Visits by international leaders within the territory of Gaza Strip have been extremely limited since the outbreak of the ongoing crisis and I did not seek to visit Gaza on this occasion. I have spoken with the Commissioner General of UNRWA, one of the key mandate holders to visit Gaza, who briefed me on the situation on the ground.