Ireland "will not be silent" on "man-made humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza

Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined the leaders of Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain in a joint statement on Palestine today, Friday, May 16.

"We will not be silent in front of the man-made humanitarian catastrophe that is taking place before our eyes in Gaza," the joint statement says.

"More than 50.000 men, women, and children have lost their lives. Many more could starve to death in the coming days and weeks unless immediate action is taken.

"We call upon the government of Israel to immediately reverse its current policy, refrain from further military operations and fully lift the blockade, ensuring safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian aid to be distributed throughout the Gaza strip by international humanitarian actors and according to humanitarian principles. United Nations and humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA, must be supported and granted safe and unimpeded access.

"We call upon all parties to immediately engage with renewed urgency and good faith in negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of all hostages, and acknowledge the important role played by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar in this regard.

"This is the basis upon which we can build a sustainable, just and comprehensive peace, based on the implementation of the two-State solution. We will continue to support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and work in the framework of the United Nations and with other actors, like the Arab League and Arab and Islamic States, to move forward to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution.

"Only peace can bring security for Palestinians, Israelis and the region, and only respect for international law can secure lasting peace.

"We also condemn the further escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with increased settler violence, the expansion of illegal settlements and intensified Israel military operations. Forced displacement or the expulsion of the Palestinian people, by any means, is unacceptable and would constitute a breach of international law. We reject any such plans or attempts at demographic change.

"We must assume the responsibility to stop this devastation."

As well as Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Friday's joint statement is signed by Kristrún Frostadóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland; Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Robert Abela, Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta; Jonas Gahr STØRE, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway; Robert Golob, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia; and Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain.

The situation in Gaza

The joint statement was issued the same day that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for over ten weeks since March 2, when the Israeli authorities "imposed a siege."

UNRWA says that as a result of the Israeli siege, "basic humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly running out; UNRWA flour and food parcels have run out, and over 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."

On May 12, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said: "With the announced expansion of military operations throughout the Gaza Strip, the persistent inability of humanitarian agencies to access populations in dire need, an anticipated escalation in hostilities, and the continued mass displacement of people, the risk of Famine in the Gaza Strip is not just possible - It is increasingly likely."

Meanwhile, on May 14, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said there had been 52,928 Palestinian fatalities. As of March 22, 50,021 had been identified to include 22,265 men, 15,613 children, 8,304 women, and 3,839 elderly.