Two Irish MEPs will be part of a group monitoring the humanitarian situation in Gaza today. Fine Gael’s Colm Burke and Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brun are part of a 15-MEP European Parliament delegation visiting Israel and Palestine.
More than 1,000 people died and thousands more were injured following the Israeli war in Gaza during December and January.
In Gaza, the politicians will visit hospitals and schools accompanied by representatives from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Ms de Brun said: “We will be monitoring humanitarian conditions on the ground, access to essential services and the flow of food and medical aid.”
“As well as these important immediate concerns, we will be calling for daily life to return to normal as soon as possible for local people.”
The delegation will be investigating if there were breaches of international humanitarian law and or international human rights law during the recent conflict in the region.
During a five-day visit to the region, the 15 MEPs will meet representatives of the Israeli Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Salam Fayyad.
Talks with members of Israel’s Knesset parliament in Jerusalem are also planned.
Several meetings with UN agencies, non-governmental organisations and human rights organisations are on the itinerary.
A summit on the reconstruction of Gaza, which will be attended by politicians from 80 countries, will be held in Egypt on Monday.
The Seanad is due to hold a debate today on the recent conflict in the Middle East.
PA