Tánaiste announces 'imminent' arrival of 15 Palestinians from Gaza to Ireland
Ellen O'Donoghue
A total of 15 Palestinians from Gaza are due to arrive in Ireland on Friday morning, the Tánaiste has announced.
Holders of long-stay visas to study in Ireland, they had been unable to leave the enclave without assistance.
In a video statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said his officials in the Middle East region had been working "to help evacuate more young people from Palestine who have visas to come and study here in Ireland.
"I'm delighted and relieved to say that we’ve successfully evacuated 15 people from Gaza, they’ve safely crossed into Jordan, where they will receive a medical screening, and then they should arrive here in this country tomorrow," Mr Harris said.
In a statement, Mr Harris welcomed their arrival, wishing them "every success during their time here.
"Evacuations from Gaza are complex operations requiring close cooperation and detailed planning across multiple organisations, led by our Consular and Embassy teams," he said.
He added that he is "extremely concerned" about the escalation of Israel's offensive in Gaza, "which will only lead to more loss of life, more starvation, and an even greater distance from any hope of peace.
"Ireland has consistently called for an urgent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, for humanitarian aid to flow and for a concerted effort to bring about a two-State solution. I will attend the UN General Assembly next week and the situation in Gaza will be top of my agenda," the Tánaiste said.
More than 200 people have travelled from Gaza to Ireland since the war began.
