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

I thank the Deputy very much. I join the House in welcoming the news that there will be a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, to be observed by all sides: Israel, Hamas and the other armed groups in the territory. I recognise the role of the US Government and the Qatari Government in mediating this welcome ceasefire. The ceasefire will facilitate the release of 50 hostages being held by Palestinians. We hope this will include Emily Hand. It will also facilitate the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, some of whom are teenage boys imprisoned for little more than throwing stones at armed soldiers.

The four-day ceasefire will allow humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. This will include food, fuel, medicines, water and all the basics needed for human life. Individually and as part of the UN and EU, Ireland will do anything we can to ensure that happens well. It is our view that the ceasefire should not just last for four days and that it should be extended to allow space for a peace initiative to bring a permanent end to violence in the region, resulting in a two-state solution and Israel and Palestine living side-by-side as secure and viable states.

I have sought advice on the human rights clause in the EU agreement with Israel, although it has not yet come back. These things can sometimes take time, particularly where complex legal questions are involved.

On recognition, Ireland has always given Palestine de facto recognition. We recognise its passports, describe its Head of Government as Prime Minister and describe Mahmoud Abbas as President of Palestine rather than President of the Palestinian Authority. We do not give Palestine de jurerecognition because we have taken the view that this should only happen when it is actually established and functioning as a state as part of a two-state solution. I appreciate that other countries take a different approach but our approach has always been to recognise the passports, President, Prime Minister and government of Palestine but not to recognise the state of Palestine formally and de jureuntil it is established, exists and is functioning in the way a normal state would.

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