Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

82. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has put forward at EU level the urgent need to impose additional meaningful sanctions on Israel in view of the ongoing genocide being inflected on the people of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47336/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Ireland, the EU and international partners have been clear that there can be no forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza, nor occupation of the Strip by Israel.

At the EU level, the situation in Gaza and in the West Bank was at the centre of discussions at the informal Copenhagen Foreign Affairs Council on 29-30 August. I strongly urged the EU to move forward with a range of concrete measures in response to Israel’s actions which are in clear breach of its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We need to maximise the pressure, to bring about a ceasefire, the release of hostages and to end the famine. I welcome that the review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement has been finalised. Ireland and Spain first called for this step in February 2024.

I also have joined nine other EU Ministers in writing to High Representative Kallas to call for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. Ireland has been calling for this work for some time and will continue to take action.

While I will continue to advocate for meaningful EU action, in the current absence of EU measures, Ireland will co-ordinate with like-minded Member States to take forward actions at the national level.