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Up to 30 sick children are to be brought from Gaza to Ireland for medical treatment and care.

The Irish cabinet agreed to the move on Wednesday following a request from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Government departments have been working on the proposal alongside medical doctors and the Irish Red Cross (IRC) for a number of months.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said this is a "modest but important step given the scale of the horrific conflict by the Israeli military forces".

Israeli forces launched a campaign to destroy the Hamas group in Gaza in response to its attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages.

More than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Support for children

The plan aims to bring up to 30 children from Gaza to Ireland this year.

The children will travel with a carer, who will be accommodated in homes managed by the IRC.

All patients and carers are required to get health screenings before travelling.

Translation services will be provided and other assistance to access services.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) will also provide appropriate psycho-social assessment for both patients and carers.

Children with a range of medical conditions will be treated in Ireland.

Donnelly said the loss of life in the conflict is "devastating, particularly the loss of life of civilian men, women and children".

"Our health service will work with colleagues across government, across the EU and with the WHO to provide medical evacuation and treatment to those impacted."

As an EU member state, Ireland is asked to respond to the request from the WHO to assist in addressing the current health needs in Gaza.