Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps his Department is taking to ensure the end to the blockade of food and aid in Gaza. [27734/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government remains extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. A small amount of aid has been permitted to enter in recent days, but it is wholly inadequate to meet the growing scale of humanitarian need. The obstruction of life-saving aid by Israel is a violation of its international obligations. Israel must fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law and agree to an immediate end to hostilities and a full, unimpeded, resumption of humanitarian aid delivery.

The entire population of Gaza is facing high levels of food insecurity. More than 20% are facing starvation after 18 months of fighting, and almost 80 days of the Israeli blockade of vital, life-saving, humanitarian aid.

Ireland has provided over €87 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. So far in 2025, we have provided €21.6 million, including €20 million in core funding to UNRWA. This brings Ireland’s support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance through agencies including the World Food Programme and the Red Cross movement.

Ireland’s support also includes the delivery in 2023 and 2024 of over 116 tonnes of relief supplies through our rapid response initiative. Two consignments of our humanitarian aid are in Amman, awaiting permission to enter Gaza. The Department of Foreign Affairs is in regular contact with the relevant organisations for updates on the movement of these supplies from Jordan into Gaza.

We have also consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance that does not ensure access for the entire population. Last week, the Tánaiste, together with colleagues from 21 countries and the EU, urgently called again for immediate and unhindered humanitarian aid and for the killing to end.

We welcome the announcement made at the Foreign Affairs Council last week that the EU will conduct a review of the EU Association Agreement with Israel. This reflects the concern of Member States regarding the ongoing military operations by Israel and the blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Ireland and Spain had requested the review of that Association Agreement in February 2024.