Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 30 September 2025, wherein he considers that an organisation proscribed for terrorism cannot play any role in a prospective Palestinian state, whether he also considers that the Likud party, National Unity party, Shas party, Otzma Yehudit party, National Union–Tkuma party, or New Hope party can play any role in the future of the Israeli state, given that each has participated in what he considers to be a genocide. [53440/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy is our strong commitment to international law and our promotion of respect for international law. This commitment has guided our approach to the current conflict. The Government has been vocal in its support for sanctions against violent Israeli settlers and extremist Israeli ministers, as well as against Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups. Ireland has consistently condemned terrorist acts, regardless of who commits them. Ireland has strongly supported the sanctions adopted by the EU against both individuals and entities involved in settler violence. Ireland welcomes further proposals from the European Commission in September 2025 to sanction extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers.

While it is my strong belief that measures adopted collectively at EU level will be most effective, the Government is currently working on measures to prevent individual members of the Government of Israel from entering our country, as announced in the Taoiseach's speech at the UN last week.

In 2023, Ireland made written submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s occupation of Palestine which was then followed by oral submissions in The Hague in 2024. The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, published in July 2024, confirms the Government’s analysis that Israel’s occupation is unlawful. On 6 January 2025, Ireland also filed a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 30 September 2025, wherein he considers that an organisation proscribed for terrorism must decommission its arms in a new Palestinian state as it is guilty of war crimes and terror, whether the same applies to the Israel Defense Force, which in the opinion of the Government is guilty of war crimes and genocide. [53441/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my reply to the Deputy on 30 September 2025, Hamas is a terrorist organisation which offers the people of Gaza no future. Hamas is listed by the European Union as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all Member States. Ireland has repeatedly condemned Hamas and its terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and has consistently called for the unconditional release of all hostages.

The New York Declaration, the outcome document of the International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held in New York in July, states clearly that “in the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.” The Declaration also states that “Gaza is an integral part of a Palestinian State and must be unified with the West Bank. There must be no occupation, siege, territorial reduction, or forced displacement.” The New York Declaration was endorsed by 142 UN Member states in a vote at the UN General Assembly on 12 September, including Ireland which was a Co-Chair of one of the International Conference Working Groups.

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.

Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, and has repeatedly called on Israel to completely and immediately lift its blockade and allow the full resumption of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.