Ireland condemns Israel's planned attack on Rafah, urges EU members to call for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

Citing UN sources, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs says that the "wholly inadequate humanitarian access over the last 4 months" means that the population faces acute food insecurity, with a serious risk of famine developing. "This is unconscionable," the statement says.

"Freezing or withdrawing funding to UNRWA further exacerbates these risks - States which have done so must urgently rescind this decision and resume funding."