Dublin (Quds News Network) – Irish President Michael D Higgins has called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza as the death toll from the ongoing Israeli genocide campaign surpassed 27,000, with the majority being women and children.
The Irish President’s call for urgent action came following a comprehensive phone conversation with Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme, late last night.
President Higgins stressed the critical need for a swift and positive conclusion to peace talks to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to Mr. Ryan, the current death toll among UN Relief Work Agency (UNRWA) staff in Gaza stands at 152, adding a somber note to the already devastating situation.
In his statement, President Higgins expressed, “Listening to the update which Dr. Ryan provided, it is clear that it is more vital than ever that the space for diplomacy be forefronted and supported as steps that are necessary for saving life and helping discussions towards peace, and that those negotiations on which all sides are engaging are brought to an early and positive conclusion.”
The Irish leader referenced the WHO’s latest Emergency Situation Update, indicating that 70% of those killed in Gaza are women and children. UNICEF, he noted, had underscored that the Israeli genocide campaign has left 17,000 children without parents, and 75% of the population of Gaza has been displaced.
The situation is dire, with the health sector in Gaza almost collapsed, half a million people facing catastrophic hunger and starvation due to Israeli blockade, and ongoing outbreaks of infectious diseases, especially in northern Gaza.
President Higgins urged a collective consensus on the immediate need for a ceasefire, asserting that it offers the best prospect for essential humanitarian support to reach the population in desperate need.
