Press release
Tánaiste meets FM Shoukry and visits Rafah
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, has commenced his two-day visit to Egypt and Jordan.
The Tánaiste met Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr Sameh Shoukry, in Cairo today, before visiting the Rafah crossing to Gaza where he met with representatives of humanitarian partners including UN OCHA, UNRWA and the Egyptian Red Crescent.
The Tánaiste said: “I had a very substantive discussion with Foreign Minister Shoukry. Egypt is playing a vital role in addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and in trying to facilitate a diplomatic solution to this brutal conflict. We agreed that concrete and irreversible steps to implement a two-State solution must be front and centre to peace efforts. We will continue to work closely with Egypt and other partners in the region in efforts to bring an end to the bloodshed and get desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza.”
Speaking following his visit to the Rafah crossing, Al Arish Humanitarian Hub and Al Arish Hospital, the Tánaiste said:
“What I saw and heard today makes it abundantly clear that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely grave. Hunger is widespread; health, sanitation and water systems are destroyed. Despite this, Israel is continuing to impose unacceptable restrictions which impede a comprehensive humanitarian response in Gaza. A properly functioning deconfliction system and full access for humanitarian organisations to the north of Gaza is essential.
“As the international community, including the EU, has made absolutely clear, an Israeli military operation in Rafah would result in disastrous humanitarian consequences for the almost 1.5 million people sheltering there.
“And I am left in no doubt from my visit today; with almost the entirety of the Gazan population displaced, 100% of the population acutely food insecure, the north of Gaza facing famine, and health and education facilities destroyed, what we are seeing is the collective punishment of a population for the crimes of Hamas.’’
The Tánaiste’s visit comes following publication yesterday of the Colonna report, which was commissioned by the UN in response to Israeli allegations of violations.
Speaking after the report’s publication, the Tánaiste said:
“I welcome publication of the Colonna report which will further reinforce UNRWA’s existing neutrality procedures. It is clear the allegations made by Israel that UNWRA is enabling terror are entirely unfounded. UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and I urge donors to resume and expand funding to UNRWA for its life-saving work.”
The Tánaiste travels to Amman, Jordan tonight and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi tomorrow, as well as paying a courtesy call on His Majesty, King Abdullah II and visiting El Talbieh, an UNRWA camp for Palestinian refugees.