Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
101. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action Ireland plans to take against Israel following the continued bombardment of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33911/21]
View answerThe recent escalation of violence which took place was deeply concerning. I welcomed the ceasefire which came into effect on 21 May and encourage all efforts to ensure that it holds.
Tensions in the region are still high. There is a responsibility on all parties to ensure that the ceasefire is respected and to avoid all unilateral actions which can increase tension. The international community bears a responsibility to support the ceasefire and to encourage the parties towards a return to political engagement. I am committed to that effort and have been in regular contact with key counterparts in the region, and in Europe and the US, to that end.
Recent violence has had a serious impact on an already difficult humanitarian situation and in this context I announced on 19 May that Ireland would provide €1.5 million in emergency humanitarian support for the occupied Palestinian territory through UNRWA and UNICEF.
The events which took place in May happened in a context of settlement expansion and ongoing threats of evictions. Ireland remains committed to a negotiated Two-State solution based on international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and agreed parameters.
My Department will continue to raise our issues of concern with Israel at both political and official levels, bilaterally and in multilateral fora. These include the serious issues of unnecessary demolitions, settlement expansion and evictions.
Ireland supported emergency sessions of the UN Security Council on this issue. We will continue to use our seat on the Council to stress the importance of these issues to Ireland, including at the meeting of the Council later today. In my address to the Council on 16 May, I emphasised the obligations that all sides have under international humanitarian law. These obligations must also be remembered in the context of the ceasefire.
I will continue to highlight this issue at the UN and through the EU, and support international efforts to ensuring the current ceasefire holds. In this respect, I also want to underline Ireland’s full support for the efforts of UN Special Co-ordinator on the Middle East, Tor Wennesland.
