Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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210. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he is aware of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla setting sail for Gaza again on the Madleen to deliver humanitarian aid following the attack on by Israeli Armed Forces on a previous ship of the Freedom Flotilla recently off the coast of Malta, in an attempt to break the siege on Gaza and highlight the mass starvation of the people of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30720/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Madleen, was intercepted by Israeli authorities in the early hours of 10 June while trying to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Madleen was an effort to get food and medicine to the starving people of Gaza; an unarmed civilian effort in the midst of devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions. But it was much more than that; it was a powerful symbol of the urgent and essential need to end the blockade on humanitarian aid.

What the flotilla has highlighted is the urgent need for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. What has happened is another effort by the Israeli authorities to stop the entry of aid. It should not fall to any small group of civilians to get aid into Gaza.

Ireland has consistently called on Israel to lift its blockade and allow unimpeded access of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza, in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.

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

I also call on Israel to allow a full resumption of aid in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles and to enable UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently.

Ireland has provided over €88 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. So far in 2025, we have provided €21.9 million, including €20 million in core funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in February. This brought 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/Red Crescent Society. Ireland’s support also includes the delivery in 2023 and 2024 of over 116 tonnes of relief supplies through our rapid response initiative.

Compliance with international law is central to Ireland’s approach to our approach on the Middle East. Ireland has both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law.