Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris issued a statement regarding Israel's blockade on Gaza today, Friday, May 2.
"No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in over eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade," the Tánaiste said.
"Children are starving.
"Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers.
"The World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted.
"Life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza.
"It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war.
"The situation is unacceptable. In the circumstances, obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israel’s international obligations. Ireland calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
"The resumption of hostilities has been disastrous. I urge all parties to return to talks to ensure an immediate ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages.
"The international community must act now to avert further disaster."
No aid has entered Gaza in over 8 weeks. Children are starving. Hospitals are lacking basic medicine.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 2, 2025
This is the longest blockade since the war began and is completely unacceptable.
Ireland calls on Israel to lift the blockade & allow humanitarian aid in immediately. pic.twitter.com/Mx3c1YDUUe
The Tánaiste's statement comes the day after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) published its latest situation report.
In its report, UNRWA said: "Since the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza on the night between 17 and 18 March 2025, intense Israeli Forces activities escalated, resulting in thousands of civilians killed and injured, further damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure, and new waves of forced displacement.
"Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for nearly two months (since 2 March 2025), when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege.
"As a result, critical humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly depleting; UNRWA flour and food parcels have run out and around one third of essential medical supplies are already out of stock.
"This is having a devastating impact on the population, particularly on vulnerable groups including children, women and the elderly."
No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza for nearly two months.
Food stocks are running out. Aid remains stuck outside Gaza, ready to move.
UNRWA and partners have lifesaving assistance waiting at the borders.
Border crossings must reopen. People in Gaza cannot… pic.twitter.com/BBHOzizmQo
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 1, 2025
In its April 30 update on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: "Gaza’s health-care system is on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by mass casualties and critically hindered by the full blockade that has cut off essential medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment, severely impeding lifesaving services.
"Gaza faces a renewed risk of hunger and malnutrition as the full blockade, now entering the third month, threatens the closure of community kitchens, one of the last remaining lifelines in the Strip.
"Child Protection actors warn that children, who make up half of Gaza's population, are facing escalating levels of trauma, violence and neglect, as ongoing military operations, mass displacement, and funding shortages disrupt education and critical child protection services.
"The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza has exposed women, girls and other vulnerable groups to heightened risks of gender-based violence."
The comprehensive blockade on #Gaza persists alongside bombing and mass displacement.
Children face trauma, violence and neglect. Women, girls and others face rising gender-based violence risks.
Health care is overwhelmed.
People go hungry.
More: https://t.co/0LztiGpb5U pic.twitter.com/GFP9K3PJ5o
— OCHA OPT (Palestine) (@ochaopt) May 1, 2025
In its impact snapshot as of April 30, OCHA said that in the Gaza Strip, more than 92% of children aged 6-23 months, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, are not meeting their nutrient requirements due to lack of minimum dietary diversity.
290,000 children under five and 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women require feeding and micronutrient supplements.
More than 16,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are estimated to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2025.
More than 60,000 children are estimated to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2025.
On Friday, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said: "Today marks two months of siege on the people of #Gaza.
"It is a siege on children, women, older people & ordinary men.
"They are collectively punished for being born & living in Gaza, something not of their making.
"The State of Israel must lift the siege + allow a flow of basic supplies.
"The hostages must be released.
"With every additional day, the siege will silently kill more children & women in addition to those killed by bombardements.
"It’s time to show we haven’t completely lost our humanity."
Today marks two months of siege on the people of #Gaza.
It is a siege on children, women, older people & ordinary men.
They are collectively punished for being born & living in Gaza, something not of their making.The State of Israel must lift the siege + allow a flow of…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) May 2, 2025
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