Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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21. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what efforts his Department is making to ensure the safe release of a person (details supplied) from Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56555/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to ensure safe passage out of Gaza for an Irish-Palestinian person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56809/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 28 together.

I can assure you, Deputy, that my Department is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

Since the start of the current crisis in the Middle East, my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. To date 57 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to leave Gaza.

A small number of Irish citizens and accompanying dependents remain in Gaza, including the individual in question.

The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the authorities in relation to those who have not yet been permitted to leave. We are also ready to assist in instances where other Irish citizens and accompanying dependents wish to exit Gaza.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that the US has announced that it will be implementing a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals believed to have been involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the West Bank; if Ireland will be implementing a policy such as this; if Ireland will be imposing sanctions on the Israeli state that would place meaningful pressure on the Israeli Government to halt its current assault on Gaza; if Ireland will be calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56615/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the initiative by the United States to introduce a travel restrictions targeting those involved in extreme settler violence. My immediate priority is to push for a similar initiative at EU level. I raised this with my counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council in December. I look forward to this being progressed rapidly, in line with the commitment given by the High Representative following that meeting.

This is consistent with Ireland’s wider policy, whereby we do not impose any unilateral sanctions regimes, but implement UN and EU sanctions. EU sanctions seek to bring about a change in the policy and/or behaviour of the target of the restrictive measures. They are used as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to the pursuit of EU foreign policy objectives, along with political dialogue and other complementary efforts and instruments.

As the Deputy is aware, calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire have been and will continue to be a central priority for the Government. Civilians in Gaza urgently need the fighting to stop, and a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian aid. It is clear that this is now the desire of the overwhelming majority of the international community, along with the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, urgent and effective humanitarian access, and for the protection of civilians.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will intervene to help secure the release of three persons (details supplied) who were kidnapped by the Israeli army on 13 December 2023; if he will acknowledge their work with traumatised children living in the Jenin refugee camp and how necessary their work is; if he is aware that the IDF took 100 persons from the camp and killed four young people on the same day and that three of the hospitals in Jenin were surrounded by Israeli tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56695/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned about rising tensions, including violence, deaths and arrests in the West Bank, which is having a devastating effect on Palestinian civilians and communities.

The case referred to by the Deputy forms part of a broader and concerning trend, as identified by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his recent Flash Report on the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem published on 27 December 2023. The High Commissioner made several pertinent calls upon Israel, notably to release Palestinians arbitrarily arrested in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel since 7 October, to ensure that detention conditions strictly conform with international norms and standards, to end all practices that may amount to torture or other ill-treatment of Palestinians detained, and to ensure that all allegations of such violations are promptly, impartially, thoroughly and independently investigated, and that perpetrators are held to account.

This is consistent with calls made by Ireland in its bilateral engagement with the Israeli authorities as well as at the United Nations. Ireland has repeatedly called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely. We have also repeatedly highlighted the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Detainees must have the right to be informed of the charges underlying any detention, have access to legal assistance, and receive a fair trial.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether enquiries will be made to assist the journalists and their families (details supplied) and who are currently stuck in Gaza and attempting to get out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56733/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the dire situation faced by civilians in Gaza. For this reason, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian supplies is the central focus of my engagement.

I am particularly conscious that journalists in situations of armed conflict and adjacent areas often face extreme danger. Journalists are afforded protection under international humanitarian law because they are civilians. Deliberate attacks against journalists are forbidden.

In this regard, Ireland, along with partners, urgently draws attention to the rules and responsibilities related to the protection of journalists and media workers in conflict, in compliance and consistent with international humanitarian law which includes prohibitions against directly targeting civilians and taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians.

With regard to individual cases, including those to which the Deputy refers, the mandate of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to provide consular to support to Irish citizens. The Department is very limited in its ability to assist those in Gaza who are not Irish citizens, or dependants accompanying Irish citizens.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned about rising tensions, including violence, deaths and arrests in the West Bank, which is having a devastating effect on Palestinian civilians and communities.

I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy. This forms part of a broader and concerning trend, as identified by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his recent Flash Report on the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem published on 27 December 2023. The High Commissioner made several pertinent calls upon Israel, notably to release Palestinians arbitrarily arrested in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel since 7 October, to ensure that detention conditions strictly conform with international norms and standards, to end all practices that may amount to torture or other ill-treatment of Palestinians detained, and to ensure that all allegations of such violations are promptly, impartially, thoroughly and independently investigated, and that perpetrators are held to account.

This is consistent with calls made by Ireland in its bilateral engagement with the Israeli authorities as well as at the United Nations. Ireland has repeatedly called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely. We have also repeatedly highlighted the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Detainees must have the right to be informed of the charges underlying any detention, have access to legal assistance, and receive a fair trial. We will continue to raise these concerns at every available opportunity.