Tánaiste Micheál Martin has described the Israeli attack on the Jabalia refugee camp as “disproportionate”.
From a moral point of view, he said he did not believe that that attack had been justified. Israel had a right to “go after Hamas” but the killing of up to 150 civilians in the refugee camp was not proportionate, he told RTÉ radio’s News at One.
More children have been killed in Gaza since October 7th than in all conflicts all over the world since 2019, he said. “UNWRA have said that that has to stop. Children are the major casualties of this onslaught on Gaza.”
Mr Martin also said that the Irish Government has been in contact with the authorities in Egypt and Israel to whom a list if Irish passport holders has been supplied with a view to their evacuation.
"Obviously communications in the last 48 hours had been more difficult and the ongoing Israeli incursion into Gaza had made the situation even more challenging
“We're have been engaged with the authorities again today with a view to getting our citizens on a list as early as possible and getting them out of Gaza through the Rafah crossing.”
The situation remained very fluid, he said. That was why Ireland had consistently called for a humanitarian policy to ensure people can leave and that humanitarian aid can get into Gaza.
At present the situation was that only people with an Irish passport would be able to leave, Mr Martin said he would be making the case for the spouses of Irish passport holders who may not hold an Irish passport themselves.
