Palestinian children from Gaza arrive in Ireland for treatment

Ireland has welcomed its first group of Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical care, according to a report by national broadcaster RTE.

Eight children, accompanied by eight caregivers and 11 siblings, arrived in Ireland on Thursday after travelling from Egypt aboard a plane provided by the Slovakian government.

This humanitarian effort follows a request by the World Health Organization (WHO) for European Union member states to assist in evacuating Palestinian patients in desperate need of treatment. Ireland is one of 10 countries - including Spain, Italy and Norway - that have responded to the appeal.

Sean Fleming, Ireland’s minister of state for international development and diaspora, told RTE that the children are suffering from serious conditions such as cancer, haemophilia and other blood disorders.

These evacuations come as the ongoing Israeli blockade and military actions in Gaza have devastated the healthcare system, leaving thousands of Palestinians without access to life-saving medical services.