Taoiseach Micheál Martin has joined forces with several European Union and non-EU leaders to issue a compelling statement that condemns what they describe as “the man-made humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes in Gaza.”
- Advertisement -
This strong declaration was signed not only by the Taoiseach but also by the leaders of Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain, during a sidebar meeting at a summit in Albania. Mr. Martin could not attend due to the funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley, which took place on the same day.
The statement asserts that Mr. Martin and his fellow leaders “will not be silent” in the face of the mounting crisis in Gaza. The leaders call upon the government of Israel to “immediately reverse its current policy, refrain from further military operations, and fully lift the blockade” on Gaza. They emphasize the necessity for UN and humanitarian groups to be granted “safe and unimpeded access.” As the statement poignantly concludes, “we must assume the responsibility to stop this devastation.”
This press release follows a day after Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris urged a review of the EU-Israel association agreement, and just over a week after Taoiseach Micheál Martin referred to the situation in Gaza as “a war crime.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that two consignments of Irish humanitarian aid have been sitting in a Jordan warehouse for two months. These aid packages have been halted by Israel from reaching the population in Gaza.
Initially approved for entry into Gaza in March, the consignments have been unable to proceed due to the ongoing blockade, imposed ten weeks ago. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to RTÉ’s News at One that the aid is currently stored in warehouses in Amman, Jordan. The spokesperson stated, “Aid provided by Ireland is impeded by the same restrictions affecting all humanitarian aid to Gaza,” and reassured that “Ireland’s embassy in Jordan is maintaining close engagement with its partners to arrange transport as soon as possible.”
The spokesperson expressed deep concern over the ongoing denial of humanitarian access in Gaza, highlighting a “high risk of famine” facing the strip’s inhabitants. Notably, UN-backed food security experts have reported that 2.3 million Gazans remain at “critical risk of famine.”
In an alarming development, it has been more than 70 days since all aid and commercial supplies were allowed into Gaza.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder articulated the urgency of the situation, declaring it to be “the most critical point” for the people of Gaza. Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, he stated that “there is widespread starvation and a risk of famine, even though hundreds of aid trucks are waiting across the border.” He lamented, “More than two months of not a single drop of water. Blockades, bombings, children starving – somehow this has been normalized.”
Addressing the potential for further military escalation, Mr. Elder added, “If we’re looking at potentially a ground offensive, this is the moment that every person in Gaza who is still alive has absolutely feared.” Although a recent ceasefire had initially led to “huge improvements” in nutrition, he noted that for the past two months, “the only thing that has been entering Gaza for the last two months now is bombs.”
Critically, he voiced his disapproval of a plan proposing aid distribution at designated collection points, stating, “You can’t force a population into an area that is not demilitarized, and nowhere is demilitarized – only a ceasefire does that.” He argued that expecting the injured and vulnerable populations to travel to a few collection points is implausible, highlighting the disproportionate number of collection points compared to the UN’s previous offerings.
Mr. Elder emphasized the “simple alternative” to the crisis: “Lift the blockade and allow aid in.” He also stressed that genuine conflict resolution can only come through negotiation, while underscoring the plight of hostages taken during the conflict as “abhorrent.” He concluded with a powerful reminder: “We should be appalled by the inaction and the endless delays. The suffering is not complicated; the solutions are not complex … the reality is that those who have the power have the ability to stop this.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
