Situation in Gaza 'appalling and barbaric'
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described the situation in Gaza as "absolutely appalling and barbaric".
Speaking in the Dáil, he said there is absolutely no justification for what is occurring in Gaza, adding that Israel's persecution of the war is causing "immense death, destruction and suffering to an entire population".
Mr Martin said he believes the EU-Israeli trade agreement should be suspended pending review.
Yesterday, the EU agreed to review its cooperation deal with Israel, after a clear majority of member states supported a Dutch proposal to do so.
The Taoiseach said he welcomed this decision.
Mr Martin was responding to Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who called on the Government to press the issue of Gaza at the United Nations.
Ms Bacik said there are no words to describe the horror that Israel is inflicting upon the people of Gaza, adding that "the wickedness of starving children" cannot be overstated.
"Ours is a small country, but we have fierce diplomatic power," Ms Bacik said.
She said Ireland and countries around the world have a moral obligation to do more.
"Ireland must stand with Palestinian children and civilians," she added.
She said every step would be taken to stop the preventable death of infants, if they were from Ireland.
"'[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's campaign was always driven by a plan to displace and exterminate," she said.
"This is devastation, and the UN is failing in all our names."
Labour calls on Government to table resolution at UN
Ms Bacik said that Labour would be tabling a motion next week calling for collective measures by the UN to bring a lasting ceasefire and to send peacekeeping troops.
She said the Government must "table an emergency resolution at the UN General Assembly to note the failure of the Security Council and call for collective measures to secure a lasting ceasefire and an international peacekeeping force for Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to flow and save lives".
Deputy Bacik also called for the Government to implement the Occupied Territories Bill.
Micheál Martin said he agreed with Ms Bacik's presentation of what is "an absolutely barbaric and appalling situation in Gaza".
"It is simply wrong in principle and in law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population whatever the circumstances and this behaviour constitutes a war crime," he said.
He said he saw the comments by Israel's Finance Minister Smotrich who spoke about taking over Gaza.
"He said it was absolutely reprehensible."
The Taoiseach said hostages also needed to be released and said the 7 October attacks by Hamas were also barbaric.
Mr Martin said there needed to be a ceasefire and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Deputy Bacik, meanwhile, praised Ireland's leadership on Gaza, but said what Israel was doing with impunity had to stop.
"Ireland has to do more at international level and here at home," she said.
In response, the Taoiseach said Ireland's response has been "more than just words", pointing to significant aid sent by Ireland to UNRWA.
A lot of obstructions to aid in Gaza, UN spokesperson says
Meanwhile, the deputy spokesperson with OCHA, the UN humanitarian office, has said systems to get aid into Gaza are overly complicated and a lot of obstructions are being put in place.
Jens Laerke said that the latest information is that no aid has reached those who need it.
Mr Laerke described the aid situation in Gaza at present as "tragic" saying that time is running out, and that aid organisations do not know how long Israel will allow aid to enter the enclave.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he said the aid has not made it past the border because other trucks from inside Gaza need to drive to the crossing point and pick the aid up.
However, these trucks were not given clearance to pick up the aid, he said.
He said that aid agencies will try again today with more trucks needed on both sides.
He added that the clock is ticking, however, and there is an immediate need to get the aid out of the transit point.
Trucks with nutrition supplies are being prioritised, he said, particularly baby food.
"There are a lot of babies and children who are malnourished and who will need this for their survival.
"Food and nutrition supplies have been prioritised.
"That is sitting there and needs to get out."
He added that the opening of aid supplies to Gaza by Israel is temporary and that aid agencies do not know how much time they will have to get the aid in and how long it will be allowed for.
"It could be days or perhaps a week, it's not clear," he said.
"We have a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."
He said that aid is tracked by QR codes so the UN agencies have checks and balances in place to monitor what moves.
However, Israel has also set up a system involving scanning, weighing and taking measurements of supplies before anything gets in, he added.
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