Israel’s embargo on UNWRA “constitutes an appalling failure of diplomacy and the use of starvation as a weapon of war,” according to President Michael D. Higgins, reports RTE.
He praised the joint statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, as well as comments of support from Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“All member states need to make their support clear,” he added.
President Higgins said: “Ireland, along with a number of other European states, has strongly condemned the attacks on the lead United Nations agency, UNRWA, without whom there will be no one to assist. Ireland has been consistent in its demand for the release of hostages. It is of the utmost importance that other member states of the United Nations and the European Union do not remain silent in such circumstances,” reports RTE.
James Elder, the worldwide spokesperson for UNICEF, stated that vital health, nutrition, and education initiatives in Gaza would be impacted if Israel sought to prohibit UNWRA operations.
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On RTÉ’s News at One, he stated: “We look at the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza if this goes through at a time when people have never been in greater need, never been more on their knees,” reports RTE.
Over the previous year, he added, almost 35 children have been killed every day, with October being the most brutal month for strikes on civilians.
“That’s a very high bar of horror to pass… we are at absolute rock bottom,” he said, reports RTE.
According to the Austrian Defence Ministry, a rocket strike on Camp Naqoura injured eight Austrian UNIFIL soldiers, none of them were critically hurt.
According to the government, none of the soldiers required immediate medical attention.
While strongly denouncing the attack and stating that it is unacceptable for UN soldiers to be in risk, it also stated that the origin of the strike is yet unknown, reports RTE.
In response to Israel’s “despicable” ban on the UN’s Palestinian humanitarian organisation UNRWA, Taoiseach Simon Harris has called on the EU to examine its commercial relations with Israel.
The Israeli parliament’s “shameful” prohibition of the organisation, which organises almost all aid to Gaza, was slammed by Mr. Harris.
Before meeting with Antonio Costa, the next president of the European Council, Mr. Harris stated, “Reviewing trade relations is the most important action that the European Union could take right now,” reports RTE.
“What Israel and the Israeli Knesset did last night was despicable, disgraceful and shameful,” reports RTE.
He continued: “Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and others have been calling for more actions at an EU level. I think that would be a very effective way and I’ll be continuing to make that case,” reports RTE.
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