Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will work with like-minded countries in the EU, or elsewhere, to organise an airdrop of emergency food and medical supplies to the people of Gaza who are being bombed, shelled, starved and besieged by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10892/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza – after almost five months of relentless violence and displacement, civilians in Gaza are living in conditions that no one should have to endure.

The legal position is clear – under international humanitarian law Israel are responsible for the protection of civilians in Gaza, and ensuring that the essential needs of the population there are met. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is man-made and is completely unacceptable.

Along with a number of other states, Jordan has been leading on organising air drops of humanitarian assistance into Gaza with a number of other states. We are actively considering the possibility of Ireland contributing to this multinational effort.

However, this must not distract from the urgent need to dramatically scale up the level of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza by land. The International Court of Justice made clear in its order for provisional measures on 26 January that Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

That was more than a month ago; since that time, humanitarian assistance entering Gaza by land has halved and WFP and UNRWA have had to withdraw from distributing aid in Northern Gaza given the deterioration of the security situation. Under international humanitarian law, Israel has the responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza and to ensure that the essential needs of the population there are met.

Full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and massive scale up in humanitarian aid is Ireland’s priority, and is the priority of all humanitarian actors on the ground, and must remain our primary focus. Air drops alone can not deliver this.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he could provide an update on the current situation in Gaza; outline what actions the Irish Government is taking at both EU and UN levels to contribute to a resolution of the ongoing issues in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has encountered any difficulties with EU partners by virtue of taking the most pro-Palestinian stance in the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11136/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how Ireland has taken the lead in Europe in supporting Arab peace initiative resolutions at the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11137/24]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

69. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his engagement to date with his EU counterparts and members of the UN Security Council on the potential Israeli attack on Rafah; his views on the statements by the Secretary General of the UN regarding "An all-out Israeli offensive on the city” (Rafah); what Irelands response to such an attack would be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, unilaterally or in conjunction with other heads of government throughout the EU, can make further positive intervention with a view to the establishment of peace initiatives in the Middle East. [8110/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 18, 27, 69 and 73 together.

I remain focused on the dreadful situation in the Gaza Strip, where the current situation is a humanitarian disaster. I fully believe that an Israeli military escalation in Rafah, where almost 1.5 million people are sheltering in desperate conditions, would be catastrophic. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and a drastic increase in humanitarian access.

I have been engaging intensively with our partners in the European Union, in the region, and internationally since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland’s diplomatic efforts have consistently focused on the urgent need for a ceasefire and a significant scale-up of humanitarian access and supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Ireland has also worked to encourage accountability for Israeli actions. Ireland participated in legal hearings on the consequences of Israel’s occupation and the Taoiseach has written to the European Commission on the subject of reviewing the EU-Israel Association agreement along with the Prime Minister of Spain. Ireland will continue to use legal and political channels to address possible infringements of international law.

At meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, I have emphasised that we urgently need a comprehensive, political track to end this conflict and called on my counterparts to urge for a humanitarian ceasefire. On 19 February, 26 EU Member States issued a statement that called for an immediate pause in fighting and urged Israel not to undertake further military operations in Rafah.

I have also stressed the need for the EU response to evolve as the situation evolves. On 22 January, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels, which Israeli, Palestinian and regional Foreign Ministers also attended. I reiterated that the EU must be robust in underlining that international law applies in all conflicts, to all parties, state actors and non-state actors alike.

The Foreign Affairs Council of the EU on 19 February was also a good opportunity to urge countries to reinstate funding to the leading humanitarian provider in Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). I was pleased to see the decision by the European Commission to release €50 million in funding for UNRWA with a further €32 million to follow, and to increase its overall humanitarian aid for Palestinians in 2024. The role that UNRWA plays, both in Gaza and in the wider region, is crucial and irreplaceable.

Thus far, we have not achieved EU-wide consensus on the best approach to addressing the current crisis in Gaza. However, I continue to express Ireland’s long-standing and principled commitment to the rule of law and protection of human rights. As a member of the European Union, Ireland is committed to maintaining meaningful engagement with other member states on this issue despite differences in perspectives.

As the Deputies will be aware, I also travelled to the region from 14 to 16 November to engage directly with my Israeli and Palestinian counterparts and to urge an immediate, humanitarian ceasefire. I expressed my grave concern about the humanitarian situation on the ground and reiterated my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Keeping these channels of communication open is the most effective way to make our voice heard.

I have spoken with my Iranian counterpart and urged him in the strongest terms to bring his influence to bear in avoiding regional escalation and in insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have also engaged with my Egyptian, Jordanian, Qatari, Turkish, Saudi, Lebanese, Iraqi and Emirati counterparts. These discussions have informed the leading position that Ireland has taken among EU counterparts to build momentum for a sustainable solution rooted in Arab peace initiatives.

Ireland’s actions to demand a ceasefire are visible in our strong and consistent commitment to multilateralism. Ireland voted in favour of both United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for a ceasefire, and participated in the United Nations Security Council open debate on 24 October. Although, I welcome the Security Council vote for increased humanitarian aid last December – I have been very disappointed by the failure of the Council to act decisively on this conflict thus far.

In the past few weeks, I attend the Munich Security Conference where I spoke with a range of counterparts from the Middle East and wider Europe. Last November, I also attended the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, alongside EU and regional partners to convey Ireland’s position on the conflict.

It is important that our efforts to address the immediate crisis also contribute to a sustainable peace in the long term. I will underline this point in my engagements with EU, regional and international partners and will advocate for a clear EU position, which emphasises the need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire.