MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin may travel to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing during a visit to Egypt this week, The Irish Timeshas learned.
Mr Martin will depart today for Cairo for a three-day trip, which will include meetings with the Egypt’s foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa.
Mr Martin revealed during an Oireachtas committee meeting last December that his request to visit Gaza from the Israeli side had been turned down by the Israeli authorities.
No substantive reason had been given for the refusal, he said.
Israeli officials argue that high-level dignitaries should not visit Gaza for fear their presence could be used for ‘‘propaganda purposes’’ by Hamas.
The Irish Timesunderstands that the Minister's visit to Gaza is likely to happen near the end of his trip to Egypt.
If the visit takes place, Mr Martin is likely to spend half a day in the territory assessing the level of humanitarian needs following last year’s military offensive by Israel in the strip, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Gazans.
It is expected he will meet humanitarian personnel, including John Ging, the Irishman who serves as director of operations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
‘‘The Minister has always made clear his intention to visit Gaza and he will be discussing this with the Egyptians,’’ a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
In a statement, Mr Martin praised the ‘‘vital role’’ Egypt was playing in efforts to revive the Middle East peace process and facilitate a relaunch of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
‘‘I am looking forward very much to discussing these issues with foreign minister Aboul Gheit and also receiving an Egyptian assessment of the current situation in Gaza, about which I have consistently made known my strong concerns regarding the continued unacceptable blockade imposed against that territory,’’ he added.
Mr Martin said both Ireland and Egypt shared concerns about the ‘‘urgent need for political progress’’ in the region, particularly in relation to a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He said he also looked forward to discussing economic and trade issues with his Egyptian counterpart.
Mr Martin’s visit to Cairo builds on an earlier visit in July 2008, during which he also held talks with Mr Aboul Gheit and Mr Moussa.