Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider points made by a person (details supplied) regarding life and death in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44805/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Middle East region is experiencing a period of significant instability with multiple crises, many of which are interrelated. The catastrophic and further deteriorating situation in Gaza and the deeply concerning situation in the West Bank remains a central focus of my engagement with my EU and other international counterparts.

I am also acutely aware of the extremely high level of interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the deeply held concerns of Irish people on the matter.

Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. The Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification System (IPC) has determined that Famine (IPC Phase 5) is currently occurring in Gaza Governorate and is projected to spread further across the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks. This is an entirely manmade famine and must be immediately halted and reversed. I have repeatedly called on Israel to completely and immediately lift its blockade and allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.

I continue to urge all parties to do everything possible to support efforts underway to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. I commend the role of the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, in their efforts to secure progress. I call for the release of all remaining hostages, including the remains of those who are deceased.

On 10 August, I signed a letter with a number of my European counterparts, in which we strongly condemned the recent announcement of the intensification of the occupation and the military offensive, including in Gaza City. I strongly believe that this decision will only further deepen the appalling humanitarian crisis in Gaza and further endanger the remaining hostages' lives. The operation will lead to an unacceptable high toll of deaths and the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinian civilians.

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.

Ireland has provided over €95 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. Over €29 million has been provided so far in 2025. This includes €20 million in core funding to UNRWA, bringing Ireland's support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023.

At the EU level, the situation in Gaza and in the West Bank is at the centre of discussions at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, including most recently at a meeting in Copenhagen on 29-30 August. I welcome that the review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement has been finalised. Ireland and Spain first called for this step in February 2024. I have been consistently clear with my EU counterparts that we now need to see concrete options and decisions on follow-up actions.

Let me assure you that Ireland is using all the tools at our disposal- political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian- in response to this dreadful conflict.