Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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67.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he is taking on an international and European level to prevent and deter escalation of Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank.[35631/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned by the large-scale military operations conducted by Israel in the West Bank involving the use of air strikes and resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. I fully support the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate cessation of these operations.

Regarding the wider situation in the West Bank, Ireland welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July, which largely confirms the Government’s legal analysis - outlined in Ireland’s written and oral submissions, and presented by the Attorney General to the Court back in February 2024 - that Israel’s settlement and related policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to illegal annexation.

I will continue to engage with partners – in the EU, across the region, and more widely within the United Nations – to see how we can now bring to bear this authoritative opinion by the Court to end Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, and bring about the full realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

I welcome that the European Union has adopted successive rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in April and in July of this year. We have seen further instances of settler violence in recent weeks and it is important that further listings are considered.

I will also continue my intensive engagement with EU partners to take concrete steps which demonstrate the Union’s commitment to the restoration of a political horizon in the region towards full realisation of the two-State solution.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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68.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will work with countries of like minds in the EU, for example, Spain, to prevent Israeli settlement being presented and treated as a fringe activity, when in fact, it is state policy, with its illegal incursions and violent assaults assisted and-or ignored by the security forces.[35632/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear - they are illegal under international law. This is also the position of the European Union.

The Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July largely confirms the Government’s legal analysis - outlined in Ireland’s written and oral submissions, and presented by the Attorney General to the Court back in February 2024 - that Israel’s settlement and related policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to illegal annexation.

To date, the EU has agreed two rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers, targeting nine individuals and five entities. Ireland has supported both of these packages. The EU High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, recently brought forward proposals for additional listings under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. These are currently being discussed at working level. Ireland will continue to support EU sanctions on individuals and organisations engaged in and facilitating violent settler activity.

I will continue to engage with partners – in the EU, across the region, and more widely within the United Nations – to see how we can now bring to bear the authoritative opinion by the International Court of Justice to end Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, and bring about the full realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Ireland's approach at EU and international level remains grounded in the belief that the only just and sustainable peaceful solution, for both Palestinians and Israelis, is a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, with the State of Israel, and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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69.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he is taking to ensure the EU sanctions Israel for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.[35633/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To date, the EU has agreed two rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers, targeting nine individuals and five entities. Ireland has supported both of these packages. The EU High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, recently brought forward proposals for additional listings under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. These are currently being discussed at working level. Ireland will continue to support EU sanctions on individuals and organisations engaged in and facilitating violent settler activity.

I also welcome that the EU has adopted sanctions against Hamas for sexual and gender-based violence committed on 7 October.

Sanctions are an important tool to promote the objectives of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in response to breaches of international law including international humanitarian law and human rights. EU sanctions are always targeted, and seek to bring about a change in the policy or behaviour of the target of the measures.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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70.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to propose tough sanctions to be applied on Israeli settlers in the West Bank at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting.[35674/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The situation in the West Bank is one of longstanding concern, which has been intensified by the current crisis. The rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is utterly unacceptable and I have strongly supported proposals for EU sanctions targeting violent or extreme Israeli settlers. Ireland’s clear and consistent view remains that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and undermine the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. This position is clearly laid out in Ireland’s written submission to the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

To date, the EU has agreed two rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers, targeting nine individuals and five entities. Ireland has supported both of these packages. The EU High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, recently brought forward proposals for additional listings under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. These are currently being discussed at working level. Ireland will continue to support EU sanctions on individuals and organisations engaged in and facilitating violent settler activity.