Prime Minister Leo Varadkar met this evening with a group of Arab ambassadors in Ireland and representatives of some Islamic countries to discuss the situation of Irish citizens in Gaza and territories including Emily Hand, reports RTE.
Mr Varadkar thanked ambassadors for their countries’ assistance in helping 51 Irish citizens and their dependents leave Gaza.
He asked the delegation to use all influence at their country’s disposal to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, reports RTE.
He specifically raised the case of Emily Hand and sought further assistance in securing her release.
The Taoiseach said: “We discussed the dire humanitarian circumstances in Gaza, agreed on the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, and a significant scaling up of humanitarian access and aid to civilians. The enormous number of civilian deaths is deeply shocking. International Humanitarian Law applies in all conflicts, in all circumstances, to State and non-State actors alike,” reports RTE.
“Attacks on schools and healthcare facilities must cease. I particularly emphasised the need for us to work with our partners in the Middle East to deescalate the crisis and turn our efforts back to securing a sustainable peace based on the two-State solution,” he said, reports RTE.
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