The Ministers for Health and Foreign Affairs and Trade, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Helen McEntee, have confirmed the arrival in Ireland of seven Palestinian children from Gaza to receive medical treatment. This marks the fifth medical evacuation since the Government approved the initiative in September 2024, following a World Health Organization (WHO) appeal to address urgent health needs in Gaza. The children, accompanied by family members, traveled overland to Jordan via a WHO medevac convoy and were flown to Ireland by an Irish medical team on a plane provided by Norway.
Upon arrival, the children will undergo comprehensive medical assessments at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), coordinated by the Inclusion Health Service at CHI Temple Street. CHI will provide long-term care, with some patients eventually discharged or transferred for outpatient treatment. To date, Ireland has facilitated treatment for a total of 27 children from Gaza.
Minister Carroll MacNeill highlighted the complexity of the operation, emphasizing collaboration across multiple government departments and international partners. She commended the medical teams at CHI for their dedication in saving and improving the lives of the evacuated children. Minister McEntee noted the difficult circumstances the children have endured and expressed gratitude to international partners, including Jordan, Norway, and WHO, for their support in facilitating the evacuations.
The Irish Red Cross is providing accommodation, caseworker support, translation services, and psycho-social assessments for the children and their families. All patients underwent health screenings before departure, and the Red Cross assists with practical needs such as transport, schooling, and emotional care to help families integrate and recover from trauma.
HSE National Medical Evacuation Coordinator Dr. Ciaran Browne stated that the children remain critically ill, with urgent treatment already initiated prior to their arrival. The Irish Red Cross emphasized the life-changing impact of the medevac program and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the children and families through their recovery and adaptation in Ireland.
The evacuations require extensive coordination involving Irish embassies in Jordan and Ramallah, the Irish Red Cross, regional authorities, the Jordanian Red Crescent, WHO, Médecins sans Frontières, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and the Norwegian government. The HSE manages all clinical and logistical support, while other government departments provide visa processing, welfare, and additional services.
As part of Ireland’s humanitarian response, the country has consistently supported medical evacuations from Gaza and other conflict zones through the EU’s Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Since WHO’s April 2024 request, 417 patients have been evacuated from Gaza, with Ireland ranking third per capita among EU member states for evacuating children for healthcare. In January, Minister McEntee announced €42 million in additional assistance to the people of Palestine in 2026, bringing Ireland’s total support since 2023 to €144 million.
The initiative reflects Ireland’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian assistance, with the Irish Red Cross playing a central role in case management, accommodation, and integration services for the evacuated children and their families. This collaborative effort ensures that the children receive timely, specialist medical care while supporting their well-being and adjustment in Ireland.
