Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will answer the Deputy's full question as it is presented in terms of the killing of a journalist. Ireland is committed to upholding the UN Charter and the rules-based international order. These principles underpin Ireland's international engagement across the board, including in respect of media freedom, the protection of journalists and the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression.

Following the killing of the Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin in May 2022, Ireland was proactive in repeatedly condemning her killing and calling for an investigation, including in statements delivered in the UN Security Council during our term as a member. Ireland also took the initiative to shine a light on Shireen’s killing and on the urgent issue of the protection of journalists by convening an informal Security Council meeting just a few days after she was killed. By doing so, Ireland made sure that the Council was briefed by media organisations, including Al Jazeera, Shireen’s employer, and by the Committee to Protect Journalists on her killing and on the wider context of the dangers which journalists face in conflict situations every day.

Under international humanitarian law, journalists are protected as civilians. The current conflict in Gaza has been described by the Committee to Protect Journalists as "the most dangerous situation for journalists we have ever seen". Of the 99 journalists killed worldwide in 2023, 72 were Palestinians killed in Gaza after 7 October. That is a shocking statistic. Journalists have a crucial role to bring us the truth. They must never be targeted.

In relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, I met the Israeli ambassador to Ireland in my office in Government Buildings last week and communicated Ireland's comprehensive approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. I stressed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and a sustained and massive scale-up in humanitarian assistance. I noted the clear legal position that under international humanitarian law, Israel must protect civilians in Gaza and ensure that the essential needs of the population there are met. I asked her to communicate all of those issues to the Israeli Government.

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