merrion street

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, has again called for restraint and calm in Gaza, following the deaths of up to nine more Palestinians over the weekend.

The Tánaiste said:

“I was deeply saddened to hear of further fatalities inside Gaza this weekend, following the appalling number of serious injuries and deaths last week. I call again for the utmost restraint, and urge the Israeli authorities, in particular, to ensure that any force used is only as a last resort, and is proportionate to the circumstances. The number of people injured by live ammunition is very troubling, and I support calls by the EU and by the UN Secretary General for an independent and transparent investigation.

 

As I have said very clearly in all my contacts in the region, the situation in Gaza is untenable. Most of the 1.9 million people there have never been allowed to leave this tiny area, and young Gazans are vulnerable to despair, without the possibility for normal ambitions and plans for the future. The long-standing blockade of Gaza cannot be accepted as normality. I believe that a resumption of the Palestinian Authority presence in Gaza is also urgent, and I encourage those concerned to persist in their efforts to make this happen.”