Tánaiste to stress Ireland's 'unwavering support' during trip to Rafah border

Palestinians surround a car that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip.

The Tánaiste is to travel to the Rafah border today where he will stress Ireland's "unwavering support" for those providing aid to 1.7 million Palestinians across Gaza.

Micheál Martin has stressed that against a backdrop of increased regional instability, "we cannot lose sight of the urgency of addressing the current crisis in Gaza" and the wider Israeli Palestinian issue.

Mr Martin will speak with representatives from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) when he makes his way to the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza in the afternoon and meet with staff from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“I will use my visit to the Rafah crossing to highlight the impact of ongoing Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access, which prevents life-saving aid from reaching the people of Gaza. Up to 1.5 million people are sheltering in Rafah and the humanitarian consequences of any Israeli military operation in the area would be disastrous," he said.

“It is vital at such a moment of humanitarian need and regional instability to demonstrate clear and unwavering support for the work of UNRWA which remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and a pillar of regional stability.” 

On Wednesday, Mr Martin will travel to Jordan to visit an UNWRA refugee camp.

More than two million registered Palestinian refugees live in Jordan, the largest number of all UNRWA fields.

Mr Martin will also meet with political counterparts in Egypt and Jordan as part of intensive efforts to address the crisis in the Middle East.

Ahead of his trip, the Tánaiste said: "My visit to Egypt and Jordan will focus on continuing my discussions with key partners on the need for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. I will also focus on how Ireland can support regional efforts to return to a political pathway towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of this conflict and a two-state solution.” 

Mr Martin will hold meetings with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo and with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman.

“It is vital that we use any political capital that we have to generate momentum for a comprehensive regional peace, along the lines envisaged by the Arab peace plan. A two-State solution remains the only vision of the future that can ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

EU-Israel Association Agreement

Meanwhile, Micheál Martin says that he is “not satisfied” with the response from the EU Commission and member states, following Ireland and Spain’s call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Speaking in Luxembourg, Mr Martin said that he anticipated a pushback on the matter when the Irish and Spanish Governments sought a review, but that he would raise it at a meeting of European foreign ministers.

“Clearly, we anticipated that there would be a significant pushback or resistance,” Mr Martin said.

“So we’re not satisfied yet that it's getting the attention that it requires.

“Essentially, we’re calling for a review by the Commission of the Association Agreement and particularly the degree to which Israel is fulfilling the mandatory human rights clauses of that agreement.

“Because what has transpired in Gaza is absolutely unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view. We’re of the view in Ireland that humanitarian law has been breached and broken time and time again.

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“The level of civilians dying is quite shocking and it is beyond comprehension that the bombardment of Gaza continues, given the depths of despair and destruction that is going on.” Mr Martin said that some EU member states have “reservations” about examining the agreement.

In February, then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote a joint letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expressing their concerns about the situation unfolding in Gaza.

Among the calls by the two leaders was for an urgent review of whether or not Israel was complying with the human rights clauses within the EU/Israel Association Agreement.