The Irish foreign minister has praised the Madleen, the Gaza-bound aid ship intercepted by Israel, but says it is a “shame” on the world that Palestinians are starving in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

“The Madleen was an effort to get food and medicine to the starving people of Gaza; an unarmed civilian effort in the midst of devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions,” Simon Harris said in a statement.

Praising the effort, Harris noted it’s “a powerful symbol” of immediate action required to end Israel’s months-long blockade on all humanitarian aid.

“What the flotilla has highlighted is the urgent need for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza,” he said, adding that the ship’s seizure is yet another attempt by Israeli authorities to prevent aid from entering the devastated territory.