In a significant development, Ireland, along with five other nations, has voiced its concerns over Israel’s proposed expansion of military operations in Gaza, denouncing it as a “dangerous new escalation.”
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The foreign ministers of Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain came together to express their “grave concern” regarding the anticipated military actions. They articulated that such escalation would “only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation for the civilian Palestinian population and threaten the lives of the hostages that remain in captivity.”
In their joint statement, co-signed by Simon Harris, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste, they emphasized: “We firmly reject any demographic or territorial change in Gaza, including any scheme that would force or facilitate the permanent displacement of its population, which would be in violation of international law.”
The ministers called for an immediate end to hostilities, advocating for the resumption of a ceasefire.
“Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine, which belongs to the Palestinian people.”
The six nations also urged Israel to exercise restraint and highlighted the necessity of resuming a ceasefire promptly. Simon Harris conveyed this sentiment on social media, stating, “Joining today with my colleagues from , , , , and to express our grave concern about the Israeli plans and actions in Gaza. The international community must act now at this decisive moment to avert further catastrophe.” View Tweet
Further urging restraint, the ministers remarked, “We call on the Israeli authorities to ensure, without delay and in full cooperation with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, the unobstructed provision of essential services and humanitarian assistance.”
There have been renewed calls for action concerning Gaza. The Social Democrats, for instance, have reiterated their demand for the swift passage of the Occupied Territories Bill, stressing that it should remain uncompromised.
Sinéad Gibney described the current situation in Gaza as genocide, entailing multiple war crimes and violations of international humanitarian laws. “While I appreciate the urgency in the rhetoric of our leaders, there is indeed more we can do,” she asserted.
Gibney advocated for the immediate enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill and urged the Central Bank to halt the sale of Israeli war bonds. In response to queries about the bill’s focus, Harris indicated that the current efforts center primarily on banning trade in goods rather than services. However, Gibney challenged this approach, deeming it a “red herring” designed to dilute the bill’s impact.
“Making such adjustments would essentially render the bill meaningless. We must not lose sight of what is at stake,” she insisted, also pushing for stricter regulations to prevent the use of Irish airspace in transporting munitions.
Moreover, Ireland is encouraged to leverage its position within the European Union to advocate for Palestinian statehood and implement sanctions against Israel, including the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement.
Earlier, Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane emphasized, “The time for talk has long passed,” stressing the urgency for Ireland and the EU to take concrete actions regarding Gaza. Following Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s characterization of Israeli actions as “war crimes,” Kerrane outlined immediate steps, including the prompt passage of the Occupied Territories Bill, which she believes would send a powerful signal.
Asked about the potential ramifications on Ireland’s relationship with the United States, Kerrane replied, “Our priority must be to address the situation in Gaza, irrespective of our ties with the US.”
In a parallel appeal, the European Union reiterated its demand for Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza, emphasizing the imperative of facilitating humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and other officials stated, “As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the population in need.”
The EU’s statement further called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, while raising concerns about a newly approved aid delivery mechanism by Israel that delegates aid distribution to non-humanitarian actors and private security firms, a move that has met with criticism from the UN and various aid organizations.
— Additional reporting by Sandra Hurley, Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Reuters
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
