Irish-Palestinian families are begging the Government to help them rescue their loved ones in Gaza.
People Before Profit (PBP) has said around 20 families have gotten in contact pleading for help bringing around 60 of their loved ones to Ireland.
The people trapped in Gaza are a mix of Irish citizens, dual citizens and Palestinians with links to Ireland.
At an event organised by PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett this afternoon, families called for an emergency response to get them out of Gaza.
19-year-old Mazan Hania said he walked for hours to make it out of Gaza and come to Ireland.
“Please just bring my dad; if you can’t bring my father … bring me back to Gaza to die with him’.
A young Palestinian man is begging the Government to bring his Irish citizen father home from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/g5TcRvEVh5
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 19, 2023
His father is still trapped in Gaza and he is begging for help to get him out.
“Please, please I am begging you Irish Government; if you can’t bring my father, please send me, let my family - my mother and brother - stay here and bring back me in Gaza to die with my father, please, if you can’t bring my father,” he said.
He said he is constantly hearing news about the destruction and bombardment in Gaza.
“I don’t know if my father will live, will die; the situation is very difficult,” he said. “My feeling is indescribable.
“Please if you could do anything. My dad is an Irish citizen. Please, I will do anything you want. Please just bring my dad.”
Ceasefire
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is due to vote on a resolution calling for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza.
The vote was due to take place yesterday; however, it was postponed as diplomats work to address US objections to the wording of the resolution.
The US has said it cannot support calls for a ‘cessation of hostilities’ but would consider backing calls for a ‘suspension of hostilities’.
Gaza
On Newstalk Breakfast earlier, the Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme Dr Mike Ryan said The Gaza hospital system “will not survive” much longer without intervention.
He said just seven of the 36 hospitals that were in Gaza before the war are still operating, adding that those that are still there are lacking basic facilities.
Additional reporting Michael Staines.
