The Taoiseach has called for an urgent review of the EU-Israel Agreement – as the death toll in Gaza approaches 40,000. 

Simon Harris said there is “growing evidence of a prolonged humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza as the war with Israel enters its 10th month. 

“I am particularly disturbed by the confirmation this weekend by the United Nations that the number of aid deliveries reaching Gaza has halved,” he said. 

An average of 169 aid trucks reached Gaza in April – compared to 80 in June and July. 

Mr Harris also said only 24 of 67 planned aid missions to northern Gaza this month have been facilitated by Israel. 

He noted that the United Nations has said more than 80% of the Gaza Strip has been placed under evacuation orders since October of last year. 

“When people are told to leave, they have nowhere to go, so they often go to schools,” he said. 

He described the attack on al-Taba’een school as “gut-wrenching”, with over 90 killed and dozens injured. 

People inspect the rubble at a school after being hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

“Ireland condemns outright such awful and wholesale loss of civilian life,” he said. 

“We have all been horrified by the many undoubted war crimes that have been committed in Gaza. There can be no impunity. Those responsible must be held to account. 

“All the legally binding orders of the ICJ must also be implemented in full. 

“Too many innocent lives have been lost in 10 months.” 

He said the “world is standing at the precipice of a horrific moment”. 

“Yet all levers to bring an end to the violence are not being used,” he added. 

Taoiseach calls for review

The Taoiseach renewed his calls for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel. 

“The Agreement contains human rights clauses, and I do not believe it is conscionable for the EU to continue to render them redundant,” he said. 

“Ireland calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of Israeli hostages, and for aid trucks to flow unimpeded.” 

Over 90 people were killed in the air strike on the Al-Taba’een school yesterday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency, with dozens more wounded. 

While the death count has not been independently confirmed, it would be one of the largest number of casualties in a single strike since the war began 10 months ago. 

Palestinian health authorities say Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39,000 people.