Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he agrees with the comments of an tUachtarán at the recent National Famine Commemoration that the General Assembly of the United Nations should exercise its powers under ‘Uniting for Peace’ to bypass the Security Council and authorise collective action to preserve life in Gaza in the face of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. [26756/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully share your deep concern at the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza.I have consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance that does not ensure access for the entire population. Recent days have seen a small amount of aid being permitted to enter Gaza. However, this is completely out of proportion with the scale of humanitarian need, which continues to grow. I will, along with my international partners, continue to apply such pressure. Close coordination with likeminded partners is central to both my work and that of my officials.A shared priority with both our European and regional partners at this time is the forthcoming UN High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the two-State Solution. This will take place in New York in June of this year and will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

The conference was mandated by way of a resolution adopted on 18 September 2024 at a reconvened tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on Palestine. For this reason, the immediate focus for Ireland and the international community is on this high level conference next month, which arises directly from a special session of the General Assembly.

Ireland is playing a central role, including through co-chairing, alongside Türkiye, one of the eight Working Groups that form part of the Conference. This intensive work is continuing in close political coordination with European and Arab partners, including through the meeting of the “Madrid Group” that took place in Madrid last Sunday. This Conference will provide an important opportunity to advance discussions on concrete initiatives towards implementing the two-State solution such as implementation of the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza, including addressing the need for security arrangements on the ground that respect Palestinian sovereignty and take account of Israeli security needs.