Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ongoing US engagement is essential to finding a solution to the current conflict in Gaza and restoring a political pathway. At the most recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in February 2024, Ireland co-sponsored three resolutions on the conflict, including a resolution on the “Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice”.

In February 2024, I visited Washington DC and Chicago for a range of high level political meetings among other engagements. In Washington, I met with members of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus, as well as Senators Chuck Schumer, Chris Murphy, Jon Ossoff and Lindsey Graham, and Democratic Minority Whip Katherine Clark. I also met with the Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer, and USAID Administrator, Samantha Power. In all of these meetings I gave Ireland’s clear position on the war on Gaza, including in relation to the importance of support for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). I also took part in a public event with the Atlantic Council in Washington, where I made clear Ireland’s position on the unacceptable humanitarian situation in Gaza, called for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and a massive scaling up of humanitarian aid.

When the former Taoiseach travelled to Washington for St Patrick’s Day, he highlighted to President Biden Ireland’s priorities, namely calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, increased humanitarian access and the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Recently, the Taoiseach also met with former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who recently called for a halt of weapons transfers to Israel, in a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

My officials meet with representatives from the US Embassy in Ireland and the Government will continue to engage intensively with the US on this crisis in bilateral and multilateral settings at official and political levels.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Officials at our Embassy in Tel Aviv are in constant engagement with all parts of the Israeli government and administration on the full range of our issues and concerns. This affords Irish officials important opportunities to communicate Ireland’s perspective, especially in the context of the current unfolding events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

A particular focus of recent engagement with senior Israeli officials, including that undertaken alongside other EU and international partners, has been on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In light of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the latest alarming reports by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors, officials underlined their grave concern for the situation on the ground and reiterated the dire to scale up humanitarian access. Additionally, they called for the immediate and unconditional implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions 2720 and 2712.

Israel must immediately facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip, in particular by road. This is clearly Israel’s responsibility under international humanitarian law and it is what the ICJ has ordered Israel to do. All restrictions on the work of UNRWA and other humanitarian groups must be immediately lifted.

Irish officials have also extensively engaged with the Israeli Government regarding Irish consular cases, including that of Emily Hand, who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. In addition, they have engaged with the Israeli authorities on the evacuation of Irish citizens and their dependants from Gaza. To date, assistance has been provided to 95 Irish citizens and dependants to exit the Gaza Strip. The Department continues to work with the small number of citizens and dependants who wish to leave Gaza and have not yet been able to do so.