Micheál Martin says situation in Gaza is a ‘crisis’ as he attends meeting with devolved Welsh government
Tánaiste Micheál Martin expressed frustration at the pace of the aid effort and suggested that Israel may be holding it up. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collinsand also allow a five-fold increase in the number of aid trucks to be sent into the area in coming days.in recent days for an aid convoy of about 20 trucks to be allowed over the Rafah crossing from Egypt into Gaza, where civilians are running out of food and water.
“It seems to me that the Israelis are dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on this. But the humanitarian crisis cannot wait. We need to get trucks of food in and it shouldn’t be 20 trucks, by the way. It should be 100. The key thing . . . is the opening of the Rafah crossing. I would appeal for an acceleration of that. There is a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. The time has come now to open it,” he said.
There are up to 40 dual Palestinian-Irish citizens and their dependents currently trapped in Gaza. Mr Martin said the “immediate priority” was to get the Rafah crossing over to facilitate their escape. After that, he said, the Government would organise their repatriation to Ireland on flights that may be shared with other European countries.
Mr Martin insisted Ireland had been “fair and balanced” in its comments. He said the Government fully acknowledges the “shock and terror” felt by the Israeli people and that the Hamas attack “realised many of fears around security and terror, which many people felt maybe they were overdoing”.
España Últimas Noticias, España Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Businesses and homes count cost of Storm Babet flooding in CorkArmy deployed as more than 100 homes flooded in Co Cork town
Leer más »
New heavy delivery service Nügo to create 100 jobs100 new jobs are to be created by a new two-person heavyweight collection and delivery service.
Leer más »
Ireland not considering pulling troops out of Lebanon, Tánaiste saysUNIFIL reported over the weekend that its headquarters in Naqoura was hit by a rocket. No Irish troops or troops on other peacekeeping missions were injured.
Leer más »
Taoiseach warns Tanaiste Mary Lou would want to be 'top dog' in future coalitionTaoiseach Leo Varadkar said that it is up to Fianna Fáil if they want to leave the door open to talking to Sinn Féin following the next general election.
Leer más »
Tánaiste announces additional €13m humanitarian aid funding for PalestiniansGovernment calls for ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war and urges EU and regional partners to provide financial support
Leer más »