The Tánaiste has accused Israel of “enabling war crimes” in Gaza.
Following an 11 week blockade by Israel, aid has begun to trickle again into the besieged territory.
However, UN officials maintain that it is only "a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed" and warned Gaza is at risk of famine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously justified the blockade on the grounds that the aid was being looted by Hamas; however, he has since bowed to diplomatic pressure from US Senators.
"They come to me and say this, 'We're giving you all the support to achieve victory... But there's one thing we cannot accept. We cannot handle images of starvation'," he said.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Simon Harris described the situation as “one of the most horrific and almost unimaginable humanitarian catastrophes”.
“Children are being starved in Gaza right now,” he said.
“I was talking to our own officials yesterday; Ireland, people listening to this programme, through their taxes, have paid for such a significant amount of aid to send into Gaza.
“We have Irish Aid trucks - along with thousands of thousands of trucks from many parts of the world - effectively parked in Oman, in Jordan waiting to distribute food and shelter to thousands of people.
“I think we have enough food in the Irish trucks for around 7,000 people.
“It’s been sitting there for four months and for one reason and one reason alone - it cannot get in to save people who are starving - that is the Israeli blockade in relation to aid that’s now gone on for around 80 days.”
Mourners gather around the bodies of eight Red Crescent emergency responders in Gaza. Picture by: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana.Minister Harris continued that the actions of the Israeli Government are “utterly inhumane” and that he believes they are trying to displace the Palestinian people from Gaza.
“Aid and access to aid is being used as a bargaining chip or a negotiating chip by an Israeli Government that is actively pursuing and enabling war crimes today,” he said.
“This is a horrific thing to have to say but it is factually correct - it is illegal to starve people… Their political objectives are very clear - they want to clear the Gazan strip, they want to clear Gaza of Palestinian people and that is a war crime.”
A U.S.-led aid plan, fully supported by Israel, is now underway in Gaza.
It ensures aid reaches civilians—through secure centers in safe zones—without Hamas stealing it.
Until it’s fully active, Israel is bridging the gap with daily deliveries of essentials.
Aid for people.… pic.twitter.com/wggRBcaSlM
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) May 20, 2025
Minister Harris said a two state solution and peace in the Middle East seems “further away than ever before”, adding that the international community “hasn’t done nearly enough”.
Deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim
Yesterday, two young Israeli diplomats were killed in Washington DC, having attended an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
The alleged shooter is reported to have shouted ‘Free Palestine’.
As Israeli diplomats, we are familiar with being on the front line, knowing we may be the target of hatred, threats, or worse.
The deliberate and ruthless terror attack this morning in which two Embassy employees in DC were murdered is an horrific realisation of those threats,… pic.twitter.com/Icr2mbkCLl
— Dana Erlich 🇮🇱 (@DanaErlich) May 22, 2025
“This is a vile, antisemitic murder of two young members of the Israeli Embassy - a young couple, I believe, who were due shortly to be engaged,” Minister Harris said.
“It is a despicable act, a heinous crime and it is anti semitic and it’s vile.”
He added that an Irish diplomat had been present at the event and he had been assured of her safety.
Main image: A split of Simon Harris and people in Gaza. Pictures by: Alamy.com and RollingNews.ie.
