Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he will take on an EU level to sanction Israel for its ongoing war crimes in Gaza; to push for an end to the blockade of food and humanitarian aid which is waiting at the borders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42303/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the measures Ireland is taking to pressure the Israeli Government to permit food and medical aid to enter Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42374/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he intends to take legal action in respect of the failure of the EU to implement sanctions against Israel for ongoing breaches of international law.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43097/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will do everything humanly possible to bring an end to the starvation of the civilian population in Gaza (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43294/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the EU-Israeli Association Agreement review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43451/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the Kallas options paper and the engagements his Department has had with other EU states from a point of view of implementing some of the options as a means of sanctioning Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of any recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU and in the UN in relation to the urgent need to impose additional sanctions on Israel without further delay in view of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the mass starvation inflicted on innocent people by Israel and the blockage of medical and food supplies to Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44176/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 81, 99, 106, 111, 112 and 144 together.

The Government has repeatedly called on Israel to lift fully its blockade of humanitarian and commercial supplies for Gaza, and to allow the immediate, unimpeded resumption of humanitarian aid, in line with humanitarian principles. The current limitations on the volume and distribution of humanitarian aid are causing untold levels of suffering, especially for the children of Gaza. We share the UN’s concerns that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is not operating in accordance with humanitarian principles and is not distributing vitally needed assistance effectively or on the basis of need. It is unconscionable that people are being killed while attempting to access humanitarian assistance.

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 the Deputy is aware, Ireland and Spain called for this step in February 2024.

I welcome that the review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under Article 2 has now been finalised. It is clear from the review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations. This is a significant finding. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June, the High Representative said she would communicate this clearly to Israel. I was clear with my EU counterparts at the June Foreign Affairs Council that there must now be concrete options for follow-up action to this review.

Prior to the July FAC, the HRVP that Israel had agreed to certain commitments with the EU on humanitarian access to Gaza. At the FAC, Ireland recalled that any agreement with Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law does not negate the violations that have already taken place. Ireland welcomed the inventory of possible follow-up measures to the review of the Association Agreement provided to Member States in advance of the meeting. Ireland continues to press for appropriate follow-up action at EU level. We have called on the EEAS and the Commission to undertake further work in this regard.

Last month, I joined nine other EU Foreign Ministers in writing to the High Representative calling for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ. This review will now be taken forward in parallel to the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It is essential that the EU abide by its commitments under international law.

I have always been clear that Ireland’s position on the EU-Israel Association Agreement is just one element of our efforts to shape EU policy. The European Union can, and should, continue to do more to use the levers at its disposal to exert pressure on Israel. This will remain a priority for my continuing engagement at EU level.

Ireland has strongly supported sanctions adopted by the EU against individuals and entities involved in settler violence. At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 July, Ireland called for the immediate adoption of further sanctions targeting violent settlers.

A shared priority with European and regional partners is the 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 on 28-29 July and will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. This Conference will provide an important opportunity to advance discussions on concrete initiatives towards implementing the two-State solution.