Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the Government is taking on an EU level to end the Israeli blockade of food, humanitarian aid and baby formula which is having devastating consequences in children’s hospitals in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government has repeatedly called on Israel to fully lift its blockade of humanitarian and commercial supplies for Gaza, and allow the immediate, unimpeded resumption of humanitarian aid, in line with humanitarian principles. The current limitations on the volume and means of distribution of humanitarian aid are causing untold levels of suffering for the people of Gaza, especially its children.

On 20 May, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Ireland and Spain called for this step in February 2024. This is a position that the Tánaiste reiterated in a letter to the High Representative in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council, alongside counterparts from Spain, Slovenia and Luxembourg.

The Government welcomes the finalising of the review of Israel’s compliance. It is clear from the review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations and we now urgently need to see options for follow-up action.

Together with eight other Ministers, the Tánaiste wrote to the High Representative in advance of last week’s Foreign Affairs Council calling for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ.

Ireland will continue to use all methods at our disposal to support the people of Gaza. This includes the funding we provide, our advocacy and policy engagement at the EU and the UN, our engagement with the international courts and our ongoing dialogue with regional partners.

Ireland has provided over €88 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. In 2025, Ireland has 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 been steadfast in our defence of UNRWA at the UN and EU, and joined EU Member States’ demarche of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise concerns regarding humanitarian access and legislation impeding UNRWA. We have been clear that there is no realistic alternative to UNRWA, that it is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and the main provider of education, health and social services in Gaza. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies including the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Society.

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