Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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617. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that Ireland intends to take in response to the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians due to commence in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1609/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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619. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement that he has had with his counterparts in Israel with regard to the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinian residents of the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank, in view of the announcement on 2 January 2023 by the Israeli Government that the transfers would commence immediately; the details of any engagement between his Departmental officials on the ground in Israel and Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta since the beginning of January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/23]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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622. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the engagements that he has had with the government of Israel in relation to a case (details supplied) and the forced transfer of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1978/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations that he has made to the Israeli authorities to protest against the proposed imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children from Masafer Yatta; the response that he has received; the further steps that he intends taking on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2067/23]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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626. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that he is taking to stop the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children, by the Israeli Government in clear violation of international law; if will he acknowledge that the forcible transfer of such people in Occupied Territories is a war crime under international law and that the UN and international, Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisation have called this a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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627. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on reports that the Israeli Army has informed Palestinian officials of their imminent plans to forcibly displace more than 1,000 Palestinian residents, including more than 500 children in the Masafer Yatta area of the Southern Occupied West Bank; if he agrees that such forcible transfer of protected residents is a war crime under the Geneva Convention and therefore a grave breach of international humanitarian and human rights laws; the action the Irish Government proposes to take to seek to address this systematic oppression against Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2140/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 619, 622 and 625 to 627, inclusive, together.

I am deeply concerned by developments in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, which could amount to the forcible transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians. I again urge the Israeli Government not to proceed with any planned demolitions and evictions, and to abide by its obligations under international law. The forcible transfer of a civilian population of an occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Ireland has been active in raising the issue of evictions, and Masafer Yatta specifically, including during our tenure on the UN Security Council. On 13 May 2022, Ireland, along with fourteen other European countries, issued a statement urging the Israeli authorities not to proceed with these evictions. Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah visited the communities affected on 7 July 2022. Ireland consistently raises the issue of evictions and demolitions in engagements with Israel at both official and political level.

Ireland will continue to work with our international partners locally to emphasise our concerns to Israel, including in close coordination with our partners in the West Bank Protection Consortium.

The Government has been consistently vocal in its opposition to illegal Israeli settlements and their expansion in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions clearly violate international law, undermine prospects for a two-State solution and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.