Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45657/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The Court’s principal conclusion was that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was unlawful and that it must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible. The Court also identified a range of legal obligations for all states arising from that situation. These include a duty not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In particular, the Court stated that all states have a duty to distinguish in dealings with Israel between its own territory and that Territory.

The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, while not in itself legally binding, represents an authoritative statement of applicable international law, which is binding on all states and international organisations, including the EU and its Member States.

Ireland co-sponsored a resolution, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 September 2024, on the implementation of the Court's Advisory Opinion. The resolution sets out in detail the legal obligations identified by the Court that arise for Israel, for all states and for international organisations arising from Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It calls on all states to take a number of steps towards implement these obligations, including ‘steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements.’

My Department is continuing its follow-up to the Advisory Opinion through progressing legislation to prohibit importation of goods from the illegal settlements and through pressing for appropriate action at EU level to ensure that EU legislation and policies are fully compliant with international law. I welcome that the High Representative has asked the Commission to conduct an analysis of the EU’s compliance with the Advisory Opinion

Furthermore, the UN resolution decided to convene a conference pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution. This conference, the UN Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State solution, took place in New York from 28-30 July. Ireland was an active participant in the Conference, attended by over 130 UN Member States. The Conference brought a renewed sense of urgency to the implementation of the two-State solution in the interests of both Israel and Palestine, and their legitimate rights to live in their own states, in peace security and dignity. Ireland was part of a core group of 19 countries, led by France and Saudi Arabia that prepared the Conference and negotiated the outcome document. Ireland looks forward to participating in the re-convened Conference during UN High Level Week in September.