Tánaiste says no confirmation Emily Hand is alive as 23 Irish citizens get out of Gaza

However, he said he believes the eight year old will be among the first hostages released should an agreement be reached between Israel and Hamas.

The Tánaiste raised Emily’s case with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and the General Secretary of the Arab League Aboul Gheit during a day of diplomacy in Cairo, Egypt.

The Fianna Fáil leader said he has also raised Emily’s case with the Qatari Foreign Minister and with Palestinian authorities.

“In terms of those who have Emily and the hostages in captivity, they have been keeping a very tight sort of security around that. In other words, they're not revealing any details as to locations or anything like that would be our understanding of it,” Mr Martin said.

“We haven't got precise confirmation as to her precise location or indeed we haven't had any definitive proof of life confirmation yet, but we have been pretty clear that the message has been communicated in the general desire that a young child should be released, particularly young Irish citizens should be released,” he added.

Mr Martin’s comments came as a total of 23 Irish citizens have made it out of Gaza today, but the Tánaiste said more work was under way on releasing the remaining citizens.

The process of Irish citizens leaving war-torn Gaza began earlier today when the gates at the Rafah Crossing to Egypt opened and the first stage of the evacuation was put in place.

Mr Martin said the release of 23 Irish citizens was a vindication of the Government’s stance on retaining diplomatic ties with Israel.

Speaking ahead of a Dáil vote on expelling Israel’s Ambassador to Ireland Dana Elrich, the Tánaiste said the proposal from the Opposition was “very superficial”.

“What happened today is a vindication of diplomacy and the essential nature of diplomacy itself,” he said after meeting the general secretary of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

“We cannot work without people on the ground in states all over the region,” he said.

Mr Martin said he had been “taken aback” by a proposition to expel the ambassador, saying there was no substance to the motion tabled by the Social Democrats.

“It makes no sense in terms of the conduct of diplomacy, the maintenance of communication channels, which are absolutely essential, even more essential in a time of conflict so that we have those channels open and we can talk to people, and we can work on behalf of our citizens,” he added.

Up to 30 Irish citizens could be allowed to leave today. Around 40 Irish citizens are currently seeking to leave Gaza as Israel continues to bombard the region in its pursuit of Hamas.

Israeli troops entered Gaza's biggest hospital Al Shifa on Wednesday and were searching its rooms and basement for what it says are Hamas terrorists holed up there.

At the same time Israel said it was delivering vital medical supplies including incubators for around 30 premature newborn babies. But hospital officials say the problem is not the lack of incubators but the lack of fuel to power the facility.

Tánaiste visit

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has thanked his Egyptian counterpart for facilitating the release of a significant number Irish citizens from Gaza.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, Mr Martin announced that the first tranche of Irish citizens had begun leaving Gaza.

“The first group of Irish citizens and dependents have been cleared to leave today at the Rafah Crossing in Egypt,” Mr Martin said.

“As we speak, a number of our citizens are being processed through the Rafah crossing, and I want to thank you again and your administration for facilitating that process,” he said to Mr Shoukry.

“We're going to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all those citizens who wish to leave will be able to exit as soon as possible,” he said.

He said a significant number of Irish citizens leaving Gaza would be assisted by Department of Foreign Affairs staff before being brought to Cairo and eventually to Ireland.

He said additional diplomatic work was needed to ensure all Irish citizens who wanted to leave Gaza coul do so.

The Tánaiste also thanked Mr Shoukry for assisting in efforts to secure the safe return of eight-year-old Emily Hand who was believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

He would not go into detail but said the Egyptian authorities had been supportive of Ireland’s campaign to secure her release.

Mr Martin also called for a “dramatic increase” in humanitarian aid to assistance with the “catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes”.

Hospital stormed by Israeli troops

Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City has become the main target of the ground operation by Israeli forces, who say Hamas fighters have their headquarters in tunnels beneath it, which Hamas denies. Starting last night, Israeli troops finally entered the hospital, where hundreds of patients and thousands more civilians are sheltering. Gunfire and explosions could be heard within as the operation progressed.

World attention has been focused on the fate of hundreds of patients and thousands of displaced civilians trapped inside. Gaza officials say many patients including three newborn babies have died in recent days as a result of Israel's encirclement of the facility.

Israel said its troops killed fighters in a clash outside the gates, and had brought medical supplies for those inside.

"Before entering the hospital our forces were confronted by explosive devices and terrorist squads, fighting ensued in which terrorists were killed," the Israeli military said.

"We can confirm that incubators, baby food and medical supplies brought by IDF tanks from Israel have successfully reached the Shifa hospital. Our medical teams and Arabic speaking soldiers are on the ground to ensure that these supplies reach those in need," the Israeli military said.

Dr Ahmed El Mohallalati, a surgeon, told Reuters by phone that staff were in hiding as the fighting unfolded outside the hospital overnight.

"So yesterday early evening it started... shooting around the hospital and within the hospital. And the sound was really horrible. Look, you can feel that it's, you know, it's very near to the hospital," he said.

"And then we realized that the tanks are moving around the hospital. One of the big tanks entered within the hospital from the eastern main gate, and they were, they were they just parked in the front of the hospital emergency department."

"All kinds of weapons were used around the hospital. They targeted the hospital directly. We try to avoid being near the windows," he said.

Another witness inside the hospital, reached by telephone, said tanks had entered the compound at 3:00 a.m. The Israeli troops dismounted and spread out in the yard, and began searching the basement and entering buildings.

"It was very dangerous looking from the glass window. The administration of the hospital told us the occupation army informed them they wanted to search us and search room by room. I am very scared," the man said, asking that his name be withheld for fear of Israeli reprisals.

"There was no shooting because there were no gunmen inside the facility. The soldiers were acting freely as were people inside the hospital, the doctors, the wounded and the displaced," the man said. He later told Reuters that gunfire could occasionally be heard and he was remaining in hiding.

Micheál Martin speaking on expected release of Irish citizens in Gaza

In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: "Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa hospital."

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told CNN the hospital and compound were for Hamas "a central hub of their operations, perhaps even the beating heart and maybe even a centre of gravity."

The US said on Tuesday that its own intelligence supported Israel's conclusions. Hamas said that amounted to giving Israel a "green light" for Israel to raid the hospital, and it held US President Joe Biden fully responsible for the operation along with Israel itself.

Global calls for a humanitarian ceasefire have mounted in recent days, and the fate of Al Shifa has become a focus of international alarm because of worsening conditions in the facility, where thousands of patients, medical staff and displaced people have been trapped during the Israeli assault on Gaza in the past five weeks.

The US said on Tuesday that its own intelligence supported Israel's conclusions.

Hamas said on Wednesday that the US announcement had effectively given a "green light" for Israel to raid the hospital. The group said it held Israel and U.S. President Joe Biden fully responsible for the operation.

"We do not support striking a hospital from the air and we don't want to see a firefight in a hospital where innocent people, helpless people, sick people trying to get medical care they deserve are caught in the crossfire. Hospitals and patients must be protected," a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

Israeli forces have waged fierce street battles against Hamas fighters over the past 10 days before advancing into the centre of Gaza City and surrounding Al Shifa.

Israel has sworn to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the militants' cross-border assault into Israel on October 7. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people in the rampage and took more than 240 hostage.

In the West Bank, a separate Palestinian enclave not controlled by Hamas, Palestinian Authority Health Minister Mai Alkaila said Israel was "committing a new crime against humanity, medical staff and patients by besieging" Al Shifa.

"We hold the occupation forces fully responsible for the lives of the medical staff, patients and displaced people in Al Shifa," Alkaila said in a statement.

Irish citizen Ibrahim Alagha has until tomorrow to get his family out of Gaza or face being stuck in the besieged city

On Thursday, the Tánaiste flies to Israel where he will meet Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and he hopes to visit the communities devastated by the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

He also hopes to meet Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki Mahmoud Abbas.

He said he would pursue the Government’s position that violence needs to stop and a ceasefire put in place in Gaza.

Virgin Media News reported that the Irish family Ibrahim Alagha, Hamida Alagha and their three young children Sami, Eileen and Omar are on the list to leave Gaza via the Rafah Crossing.

They have been stuck in Gaza since violence escalated on October 7. They went to Gaza in June to take an extended holiday and visit relatives.

Mr Alagha thanked the people of Ireland for their support and said the family are looking forward to returning to Dublin.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland from the border crossing this morning, Mr Alagha said the family were waiting for their names to be called.

“We were asked to come to the border at 7am, I got information that the border wasn’t open. It’s supposed to open at 7, but it wasn’t for some reason it got delayed for a long time,” he said.

“I was afraid that the border would not open so what I did is, I was in contact with another Irish citizen who lives just close by to the border. Once he told me that the border is starting to open now I made the journey.

“I only had fuel just for a single journey. I couldn’t afford any surprises if you know what I mean.”

Mr Alagha said the journey to the Rafah Crossing was “calm all the way” this morning and it went smoothly.

He said his feelings are mixed as he and his family get to leave Gaza and return to Ireland.

“It’s a mixed feeling. On one side I am happy that I’m going back home and going back to my normal life,” he said.

"But on the other hand I’m leaving a lot of friends and family and a lot of nice memories in Gaza.”

He said the queue of people waiting to cross into Egypt is “huge”.

Also on the list to leave is Irish-Palestinian family Aymen Shaheen, his wife Suha, his 19-year-old daughter Rawan and 12-year-old son Ibrahim.

"It's an excellent feeling. Finally, we'll do it. We will cross the border. You feel like God has chosen you to survive. It's a great feeling we are leaving but there are 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who will continue to live a nightmare," he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“Everything in Gaza is upside down. It is a hell to be honest. It is hard to find food, hard to find water. It's hard for everyone. I am lucky. I am so happy that I am going to leave.”

He added: “The Department of Foreign Affairs actually they kept contacting us all the time, twice a day. They did actually a great job.”

His son Ibrahim couldn’t believe the news at first Mr Shaheen said, asking “finally we’ll go, we are going?”

Mr Shaheen said the family are around 4km from the border crossing and will travel there using a friend’s car.

“We can move, it is dangerous but we have to do it,” he said.

“The staff of the embassy, they will be in Rafah in the Egyptian side, and they will meet us and they will facilitate everything for us.”

“We have three days to be in Egypt and also they will manage our travel to Ireland,” he said.

Mr Shaheen said “everything in Gaza is upside down” and he is lucky he and his family will be allowed to return to Ireland.

“It is a hell to be honest. It is hard to find food, hard to find water. It's hard for everyone. I am lucky. I am so happy that I am going to leave.”

However, Khalid El Estal is hoping his children, four-year-old Ali and one-year-old Sara, will be able to get out of Gaza despite not being on the list.

Their mother, Ashwak, was killed during Israeli shelling, and Mr El Estal, who grew up in Belfast, called on the Irish Government to ensure his children are on the next evacuation list.

“I am begging them to put get my children's names on the next list and to make sure they will be safe when they reach the border crossing,” he told Morning Ireland.

“I’m calling them to put their names on the list for as soon as possible. I'm also looking for them to have a safe passage to the border crossing. It's very dangerous.”

‘War on children’

It comes as Simon Harris went further than any Irish minister in criticising Israel – saying it is conducting “a war on children”.

“You cannot build peace on the mass graves of children,” he said.

Last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested Israel’s actions were in danger of appearing as “revenge”.

But Higher Education Minister Mr Harris has now suggested that Israel “has become blinded by rage” in its actions against Gaza.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA)

He was standing in for Mr Varadkar on Leaders’ Questions as the Dáil resumed.

Mr Harris said Israel had a right to defend itself against Hamas following the October 7 assault. But that original right had now become “a war on children”, he said.

Irish citizen stranded in Gaza says tomorrow could be ‘last chance’ for family to leave before communication blackout Lives of 36 babies in Gaza hospital at risk despite Israeli incubator offer Family of Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand believed to be kidnapped by Hamas set to meet President Higgins and Leo Varadkar

“It was an act of terror on the people of Israel, it should be condemned and of course, Israel had a right to defend itself,” Mr Harris said.

“But that original right to defend itself has now become, in my view, a war on children – and you cannot build peace on the mass graves of children.

“It is unfortunate that a country has become blinded by rage.”

He was answering Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who said the Red Cross had warned that hospitals in Gaza were at the risk of morphing into morgues.

“We’ve seen an appalling loss of civilian life on the streets of Gaza, over 11,000 civilians, including 4,000 children,” Ms Bacik said.

Mr Harris said the Government has decided to make “an additional financial allocation” to the International Criminal Court specifically in relation to its ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine and Gaza.

Ms Bacik said there was absolutely no doubt that what Hamas perpetrated was “despicable” and it had been condemned, but “we’re seeing unforgivable attacks on hospitals”.

The loss of life included newborn infants in incubators and older people on ventilators and oxygen, she said.

It also comprised those on dialysis and women in labour.

“Our thoughts are with all of those so unforgivably and appallingly affected,” Ms Bacik said.

Other countries were severing diplomatic relations with Israel over its “heinous breaches of international law,” she said.

It was time for the Government to reflect on whether the position of the Israeli ambassador, Dana Erlich, remained tenable, she added.

Mr Harris said the retention of diplomatic links was not the equivalent of endorsement. The Government had to be conscious there were around 400 Irish troops on peacekeeping missions in the region and about 40 Irish citizens trapped in Gaza.

There was also an Irish citizen currently held hostage by Hamas, he said, referring to Emily Hand, who turns nine years old this week.

The minister said if the Government chose to expel the Israeli ambassador, it is likely there would be reciprocal action through the expulsion of the Irish ambassador to Israel.

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins has met with the families of hostages held in Gaza following the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7.

Mr Higgins met with Thomas and Natali Hand, father and sister of eight year old Irish-Israeli child Emily Hand.

He also met with Maya Lambroso, Tal Yeshurun and Eylon Keshet, representing a number of families of those being held as hostages.

In attendance also was the Ambassador of Israel to Ireland Dana Erlich.

DIRE CONDITIONS

Al Shifa is a sprawling complex of buildings and courtyards a few hundred metres from Gaza City's fishing port. Buildings on the western side of the complex, which the Gaza official said was the site of the raid, include the internal medicine and dialysis departments.

Hamas says 650 patients and 5,000 to 7,000 other civilians are trapped inside the hospital grounds, under constant fire from Israeli snipers and drones. Amid shortages of fuel, water and supplies, it says 40 patients have died in recent days.

Thirty-six babies are left from the neo-natal ward after three died. Without fuel for generators to power incubators, the babies were being kept as warm as possible, lined up eight to a bed.

Palestinians trapped in the hospital dug a mass grave on Tuesday to bury patients who died and no plan was in place to evacuate babies despite Israel announcing an offer to send portable incubators, Qidra, Gaza's health ministry spokesman, said.

Qidra said there were about 100 bodies decomposing inside and no way to get them out.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply disturbed by the "dramatic loss of life" in the hospitals, his spokesman said. "In the name of humanity, the secretary-general calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire," the spokesman told reporters.

Medical officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 11,000 people are confirmed dead from Israeli strikes, around 40% of them children, and countless others were trapped under rubble.

Around two-thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been made homeless, unable to escape the territory where food, fuel, fresh water and medical supplies are running out.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

Israel's move toward Shifa hospital has raised questions about how it would interpret international laws on protection of medical facilities and the thousands of displaced people sheltering there, U.N. human rights officials have said.

Hospitals are protected buildings under international humanitarian law. But allegations that Shifa is also being used for military purposes complicated the situation because that would also breach international law, U.N. officials have said.

Medical units used for acts harmful to the enemy, and which have ignored a warning to stop doing so, lose their special protection under international law.

Israel said in its statement on Wednesday that it had given Gaza authorities 12 hours to cease military activities within the hospital. "Unfortunately, it did not," the military statement said.