The Tanaiste has expressed Ireland’s outrage to Israel after the latest deaths in Gaza.
Simon Coveney summoned the country’s Ambassador to Iveagh House earlier where he called for restraint in the days and hours ahead.
59 Palestinians were killed in violence that erupted as the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Coveney summoned the Israeli ambassador to a meeting to express Ireland’s “shock and dismay” at the level of death and injury yesterday on the Gaza Strip, and to call for restraint from Israel in the hours and days ahead.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Ahmed Abdelrazek says protesters are ordinary citizens, not terrorists.
Irish officials in Ramallah reported that health services in Gaza, already stretched because of a lack of equipment and essential medicines, were “overwhelmed with the level of casualties”.
“As well as the death and mass injury, Ireland is also very disturbed by the injuries suffered by health workers as reported by the World Health Organization.”
It said there were 211 recorded attacks against health workers in Gaza and 25 ambulances had been damaged.
Protests are being held across Ireland later in response to the ongoing violence in Gaza.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is organising demonstrations in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Belfast and Derry.
The group say “words are not enough” and plan to protest against what they call the “shameful and sickening” violence.
Meanwhile, a book of condolence for the people of Palestine will open to the public at Dublin’s Mansion House tomorrow.
