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The Government still does not know the status of Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti (22), one of the many civilians unaccounted for following Hamas’s surprise attacks against Israel.
In an interview on Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that while there was considerable international support for Israel but that could “fall apart” if it does not exercise restraint in its response.
“We don’t know yet whether or not (Ms Damti) is still alive, we certainly hope she is and we will help in any way that we can,” he told RTE News.
“I’ve heard her mother speak several times now. I don’t think anyone’s heart could not go out to a family worried in the way they are and the one thing Hamas has done is not just attack the people of Israel but also citizens of many other countries as well.”
Mr Varadkar said Ireland’s position was that while Israel had a right to defend itself against enemies set on its destruction, but a proportion and restraint was important in its ongoing response in the Gaza Strip, an area now under total siege.
“There is a lot of solidarity internationally for Israel at the moment. I believe that will fall apart if Israel goes too far in terms of its actions in Gaza. And there is a risk then of violence flaring up in the West Bank and Lebanon and other places.”
He said he was horrified at what had been unfolding, particularly the targeting and killing of civilians and the taking of hostages.
European Union humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people must continue and Ireland will be strongly advocating for this, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said earlier on Tuesday.
It came after a surprise announcement by Hungary’s European Commissioner that all payments of aid to the Palestinian territories would be “immediately suspended” as a result of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Diplomats were blindsided by declaration yesterday by the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, which was published on social media site X without an official statement from the European Commission’s central communication services.
The announcement came ahead of an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers today which Mr Martin is due to attend.
The European Union late last night reversed the announcement by Mr Varhelyi, and instead it said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas. The Irish Government had said earlier it would challenge the suspension.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Cabinet, Mr Martin said he did not think aid to the Palestinians will be cut.
[ Israel says Hamas ‘has nowhere to hide’ in Gaza amid ‘extensive attack’ ]
He said: “We were very concerned with the unilateral decision announced by one Commissioner yesterday and we immediately sought clarity as to the legal basis for that decision.
“In our view humanitarian aid must continue in terms of education services, in terms of health services for Palestinians in different locations both in the West Bank and in Gaza and of course in refugee camps in Jordan and elsewhere.”
Mr Martin added: “Ireland has been very, very consistent internationally in maintaining humanitarian corridors particularly in times of conflict so that ordinary Gazans, ordinary Palestinians in the West Bank will have access to basic food services, health services, education services and that’s something we will be advocating very strongly for.”
EU criticism
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters on Tuesday that Israel has the right to defend itself, but that some of its decisions have breached international law.
In response to the attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday no electricity, food, water or fuel would be allowed into Gaza.
“Israel has the right to defend (itself) but it has to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law, and some decisions are contrary to international law”, Borrell said after a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers in Muscat, Oman.
“Some of the actions – and the United Nations has already said that – (such) as cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people is against international law.”
Israel refused a request to bring food and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip, Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation said on Tuesday.
“We call on the international humanitarian institutions and the international community to intervene urgently to stop the aggression, allow the entry of relief materials, and restore electricity and water, because the Gaza Strip is facing a major humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.
Pilgrims
Israel-Hamas war: ‘a mega-event in the history of the Middle East’
With Jerusalem-based journalist Mark Weiss and Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary. Presented by Bernice Harrison
A group of 50 Irish people on pilgrimage in Israel who were expected to get out on a flight from Tel Aviv airport on Tuesday were not able to leave the country as bombing continues unabated.
The scheduled flight that they were originally booked on this Thursday has now also been cancelled, according to a spokesperson from The Irish Catholic newspaper who partnered with Manning Travel on a pilgrimage to Israel last week.
The group are believed to be still safe and in the Nazareth area of the country. The trip had been due to last until Thursday but those on the tour hoped to cut it short due to the increasing unrest.
However, The Irish Catholic spokesperson added: “We now don’t know when the group are going to be able to leave the country. We are hoping it will be later this week. The Thursday scheduled flight has been cancelled. We are trying to get the group out as soon as we can.”
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