Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 20, inclusive, together.

I met with a group of resident Arab ambassadors and representatives of countries from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Government Buildings on Tuesday, 21 November to discuss the situation in the Middle East, and in particular the ongoing conflict between Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups and Israel, and the terrible impact this conflict is having on the people of Gaza.

The meeting provided me with an opportunity to hear their views on the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the rising violence and deaths in the West Bank. I emphasised Ireland’s clear position that international humanitarian law applies in all conflicts, in all circumstances, to state and non-state actors alike.

We discussed the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire and the need to de-escalate the crisis. I assured the group of Ireland’s commitment to do all we can, working within the EU and with our international partners, to bring about an end to the conflict, to provide critical aid to the people of Gaza and to turn our efforts to securing a sustainable peace based on the two-State solution.

I thanked the ambassadors for their countries' support in helping Irish citizens and their dependents to leave Gaza. I also raised the case of Emily Hand and asked the group to use any influence their countries may have in securing the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. I think that the House will join me in welcoming the release by Hamas of Emily, who is now reunited with her family, and I am pleased that the Government could play its part in working for her release with our partners in the region.

My attendance at COP 28 in Dubai last week also gave me a further opportunity to speak with leaders from the region about the evolving situation. Among those I met were the Emir of Qatar, the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, the President of the United Arab Emirates, the Prime Minister of Lebanon and the Prime Minister of Iraq, who, in addition to offering their analysis, thanked the Irish Government for its strong position on the crisis.

We shared serious considerations about the dire and worsening humanitarian situation and our disappointment and dismay about the resumption of hostilities. We agreed that efforts must continue on seeking the establishment of a durable humanitarian ceasefire and towards reviving a political process based on a two-state solution.

I also thanked the leaders for their assistance in facilitating Irish citizens to leave Gaza as well as for their help with securing the release of Emily Hand and other hostages. I asked them to use any influence they have to secure the release of all hostages still being held in Gaza, in particular women and children.

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