Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to mobilise international opposition to the huge increase in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36391/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned by the situation in the West Bank, including the ongoing large-scale military operations Israel is conducting, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.

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 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. This objective formed part of the Government’s intensive engagements at the United Nations High Level Week in New York late last month. Ireland also co-sponsored a UN General Assembly Resolution adopted last month addressing follow-up to the Advisory Opinion. Ireland was one of 124 UN Member States to vote in favour of the Resolution.

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 and regional partners to take concrete steps which demonstrate the Union’s commitment to the restoration of a political horizon towards full realisation of the two-State solution.