Ireland's deputy leader appeals to Israel to 'show humanity' and allow more aid into Gaza
Ireland's deputy premier has appealed to Israel "to show humanity" and allow more aid into Gaza.
Micheal Martin, who is Ireland's foreign affairs minister, described the humanitarian situation as "catastrophic".
According to the United Nations, a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million population faced starvation. Around 80% had fled their homes since Israel launched its military campaign.
Israel launched the offensive in response to the Hamas attacks of 7 October.
"Nothing can get away from the fact that what would really have an immediate impact is really a proper flow of aid through the land routes," Mr Martin said.
"It is criminal, it is absolutely a scandal that children are malnourished, that half the population are facing famine, and others in terms of insecurity. There is no need for this.
"There's excessive checking at the borders. And I spoke this morning to Ayman Safadi, the foreign minister in Jordan, I spoke to Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry yesterday, and I spoke to the Palestinian prime minister yesterday also.
"They're telling me the situation is dire, absolutely catastrophic. And I would appeal to Israel to show humanity in terms of enabling the essentials of life to get into Gaza for the civilian population."
Mr Martin was speaking at an event in Dublin alongside EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Janez Lenarcic, who described the conditions in Gaza as "a man-made disaster".
The comments come as the UN's top court ordered Israel to open more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into Gaza.
In a unanimous decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel must take "all the necessary and effective action" to prevent a further deterioration of the "catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip".
Piling even more pressure on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the justices observed that "Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine... but that famine is setting in", as they called for urgent action to prevent mass starvation.
Ireland's premier Leo Varadkar said Israel "must immediately comply" with the ICJ provisional measures.
For more on the ICJ order, click the link below: