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

I have repeatedly condemned the bombardment of Gaza. We in Ireland have taken a number of steps to move towards a political pathway and a ceasefire. We have worked with the Arab partners like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Qatar and others to try to develop a peace process and a proper peace initiative. They have published that. We have engaged with them and also with the European Union to get that advanced and to support the humanitarian side of the equation. Ireland has been quite effective with regard to the UNRWA and support for the Palestinian Authority and Prime Minister Mustafa. We have also worked and engaged with the Americans on that ceasefire and political approach. As the Deputy knows, this is a complex issue that goes back decades. There has been a historic link between the United States and Israel. We may not agree with the unconditional support that flows from the United States to Israel. Likewise, some European Union states have historic connections because of what happened in the Second World War. However, in our view, in the current context people should view this through the prism of international humanitarian law.

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