Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made by the Government to have the aid that is stuck at the Rafah border crossing freed and transported into Gaza. [27347/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Israeli authorities temporarily allowing the UN to resume delivery of limited aid into Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27345/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he is taking to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26982/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 231 and 247 together.

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

The Government has consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance that does not ensure access for the entire population. Israel's decision to take control of the distribution of humanitarian aid through private contractors has been described by the UN as unacceptable and designed to further control and restrict supplies. Recent days have seen a small amount of aid being permitted to enter Gaza. However, this is completely out of proportion with the scale of humanitarian need, which continues to grow.

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 Association Agreement with Israel. This is an important decision reflecting the concern held by 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.

We will continue to provide assistance to the people of Palestine, in Gaza and in the West Bank. 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 in February. This brings Ireland’s support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other 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. Ireland has two consignments of humanitarian aid in Amman, Jordan, awaiting entry to Gaza. Both consignments had received approval to enter Gaza but were unable to do so following the imposition by Israel of the blockade on aid.

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.