Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support a group of Irish medical doctors who came together to protest against the humanitarian disaster happening in Gaza (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30170/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This conflict remains a central focus of Ireland’s foreign policy and my engagement with my EU and international counterparts.

I strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire. Israel's plans to expand its military operations in Gaza and establish its prolonged presence are extremely alarming and will further compound an already dire situation.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening daily. The entire population is facing high levels of food insecurity. More than 20% face starvation after 18 months of fighting, and almost 80 days of the Israeli blockade on vital, life-saving, humanitarian aid.

The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at immediately agreeing a ceasefire and hostage release deal. All remaining hostages must be released. There needs to be an immediate resumption of humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza, and at scale.

In response to concerns regarding the situation in Gaza, on 20 May the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed to a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As this House is aware, Ireland and Spain had already called for this step in February 2024. This is a position that I reiterated very clearly, alongside my counterparts from Spain, Slovenia and Luxembourg, in a joint letter to the High Representative in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council.

It is also my strong view that if Israel is deemed to be in breach of its obligations, such a finding must be followed by concrete action.

As both I and the Taoiseach made clear in the Dáil last month, it is also our view that the operation of the Association Agreement should be suspended pending the outcome of a review of Israel’s compliance. At the same meeting, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed to carry out a review of Israel's obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Compliance with international law is central to Ireland’s approach at EU and international level. Ireland has both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law, Israel must protect civilians in Gaza and ensure that the essential needs of the population there are met. Hospitals and health facilities, medical and humanitarian personnel, must be protected.

The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to progress legislation prohibiting goods from the occupied Palestinian territory. On Tuesday 27 May, the Government agreed to advance work on the Heads of a Bill. This work is being progressed, with a view to bring the Heads of a Bill to Government in the coming weeks.