Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he had helpful discussions aimed at allowing Irish citizens leave Gaza and to secure the release of the young Irish-Israeli girl believed to be held by Hamas.
Mr Varadkar spoke to the foreign ministers of Egypt, the Prince of Jordan and the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority at a conference in Paris on Thursday.
"I don't want to get into details because that wouldn't help what we're trying to achieve but it was definitely useful to talk to Egypt and Jordan in particular," he said.
The Taoiseach said the conference was told that those working on the ground in Gaza fear that as water and sanitation fails, thousands of people could soon die every day.
And he said there are growing fears of an escalation in the West Bank and Lebanon.
The conference heard from several European Union heads of state and representatives from Middle East countries, however, Israel was not in attendance.
Speaking afterwards Mr Varadkar called for the opening of large border crossings between Israel and Gaza to allow aid into the territory.
He said some of these crossings are up to eight lanes wide and they could be opened immediately.
Earlier, the Taoiseach reiterated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
The International Conference on Humanitarian Assistance for the Civilian Population in Gaza at the Elysee Palace has been convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to mobilise those involved in the humanitarian response in Gaza.
The Taoiseach told the gathering of political leaders and aid agencies that the protection of civilians is paramount.
He urged everyone to hold to the principle that Palestinian lives and Israeli lives are equal.
Mr Varadkar warned that there cannot be double standards because this quickly leads to no standards at all if left unchecked.
Describing the crisis as being on an almost unimaginable scale the Taoiseach said there can be no peace or security for Israel without justice for the Palestinian people.
He pointed to Ireland as a reminder that dialogue works and peaceful co-existence is possible even after a prolonged period of conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the conference that there has to be more entry points established to get aid to Gaza.
On this front she pledged the Commission's full support for a sea corridor from Cyprus, which is just 200 nautical miles away.
The president of that country presented a detailed 25 page proposal for a one way corridor to transfer aid from Larnaca to the south west coast of Gaza.
He said this would provide a reliable way of transferring aid.
Mr Macron has said that there must be a humanitarian pause very quickly in Gaza and that countries must also work for a ceasefire.
"Civilians must be protected, that's indispensable and non negotiable and is an immediate necessity," Mr Macron said at the start of the conference.
The Taoiseach has arrived in Paris to attend the International Conference on Humanitarian Assistance for the Civilian Population in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/XXfEyfGz4f
— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) November 9, 2023
Speaking ahead of the conference, the Taoiseach said there must be a significant scaling up of humanitarian access and supplies to get vital aid to people in Gaza.
Mr Varadkar said: "Leaders will discuss how we can better respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza, particularly in terms of health, food, water, medicines and electricity.
"Ireland has already committed an additional €13 million to help the people of Gaza, and we want to do more.
"I will engage with Leaders from Europe, the Middle East and further afield to see how Irish citizens wishing to leave Gaza can do so safely.
"I will also meet with agencies working in Gaza, including UNWRA and the Red Cross, to hear first hand about the situation."
