Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures that have been taken to date to bring an end to the genocide in Gaza; the other measures the Government will take to cease the murder and starvation of innocent men, women and children; to examine the case for actions outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53382/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The war has gone on for far too long and with an unconscionable human cost. When we look to Gaza, we continue to witness unspeakable scenes.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Ireland takes the findings extremely seriously.

Ireland’s consistent position since the beginning of the conflict has been to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and the immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale into Gaza. We welcome ongoing efforts in this regard including by the United States.

At the EU-level, Ireland has been to the forefront of Member States pressing for an appropriate response to Israel’s actions in Gaza and in the West Bank.

In September, Ireland welcomed the proposals put forward by the European Commission to suspend the core trade-related provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The package also proposes sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers, as well as on Hamas. Ireland is working to urge fellow Member States to support these proposals and I have requested that the European Council is convened as a matter of urgency.

As a commitment to the two-State solution and to the upholding of international law, this Government is now advancing work on the commitment in the Programme for Government in relation to the banning of goods from illegal Israeli settlements under the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. This is also an area where Ireland has been at the forefront in taking action. Detailed work to analyse the report and its recommendations is well underway with a view to getting the best and most robust piece of legislation. The next steps in the process, including the timeline for the progress of the Bill, will be considered by Government shortly.

While our preference is for robust EU-level action, Ireland stands ready to take further national measures in response to the situation in Gaza and are reviewing options in this regard.

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 has filed a Declaration of Intervention at the International Court of Justice in South Africa’s case against Israel under the Genocide Convention on 6 January. On 28 February of this year, Ireland also filed a detailed written submission within the ICJ in advisory proceedings concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the UN and other international organisations, as well as states, in the occupied Palestinian territory.