World unaware of 'extent of the horrors' in Gaza, says Tánaiste

After meeting with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin, Micheál Martin confirmed Ireland would be providing an unprecedented level of funding to the agency which he said providing a 'lifeline' to millions of Palestinians. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Israel is engaging in a campaign of "disinformation" against UN agencies to scupper any possibility of a two-state solution, the Tánaiste has claimed.

Announcing an extra €20m in immediate funding for the Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), Micheál Martin said he fears the world does not yet know the "extent of the horrors" being carried out in Gaza.

The sharp criticism came as Israeli forces raided the biggest functioning hospital in the Palestinian enclave with footage showing chaos, shouting, and gunfire in dark corridors filled with dust and smoke.

The charity Médecins Sans Frontières said Israel shelled Nasser Hospital in the early hours, despite having told medical staff and patients they could remain.

Israel's military said the raid on the hospital had been "precise and limited" and was based on information that Hamas militants were hiding and had kept hostages in the facility, with some bodies of captives possibly there. This was strongly denied as false by Hamas.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with a ground invasion of Rafah when civilians are evacuated from the southern city. However, the UN has warned that around 1.3m displaced people, many of whom are currently sheltering in tents, have nowhere left to go as there are no safe areas in Gaza.

After meeting with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin, Mr Martin confirmed that Ireland would be providing an unprecedented level of funding to the agency which he said is providing a "lifeline" to millions of Palestinians in the “most desperate” of circumstances.

More than a dozen countries have paused funding after Israel claimed that a number of UNRWA staff had been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.

UNRWA took immediate action to fire individuals which Israel had identified. However, the claims are still being independently investigated.

Calling on countries to resume funding, Mr Martin said there is “no replacement” for UNRWA’s work in Gaza and those who say otherwise are “not telling the truth”.

Hitting out at what he described as "systemic campaign" of "disinformation" being carried out by Israel, Mr Martin added: "I think almost from the beginning of the war Israel has been undermining UN agencies more generally and the UN itself, and specifically UNRWA. 

"I think it's part of a wider position around the right of return of refugees, in the context of the establishment of a Palestinian State, if we were to arrive at a two-state solution."