Tánaiste Micheál Martin has called for a ceasefire in the Middle East to allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza given what he called the "enormous" loss of life there.
"The suffering of innocent civilians, particularly children, is on a scale that requires an immediate cessation in our view, and the provision on an accelerated and comprehensive scale of water, food and medical supplies," he told reporters on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg this morning.
Mr Martin said it was essential that a political track was maintained alongside the humanitarian because that was what would provide the security that was required.
"We understand Israel's need to deal with Hamas because it was an appalling attack [on 7 October], but the degree of suffering now, that innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering, is just not acceptable.
"That's why we believe a humanitarian pause is required to, at a minimum, get aid and supplies in there."
He said he had spoken to a number of regional foreign ministers, including his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
"The message I gave him was very clear: that we must all avoid regional escalation here, because it would be extremely serious if that was to occur," he said.
Mr Martin said Iran will argue that it does not have influence over Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas.
"The world views it differently and is of the opinion that they do."
He said: "Lebanon is in no situation to withstand a conflict at this stage, given the perilous state it already is in, economically and socially.
"So it certainly can do without a war and civilians and young people lose in a war. And that is something we must all keep uppermost, so there is an absolute imperative to avoid regional escalation here."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also urged faster aid deliveries to Gaza, and said the bloc was debating calling for a "humanitarian pause" in Israel's conflict with Hamas.
"What's important (is) more, quicker, and in particular to enter the basic things that make water and electricity supply being restored," Mr Borrell said, ahead of the meeting.
Mr Borrell said that the few dozen trucks of humanitarian aid that had been allowed into Gaza from Egypt was "not enough" and said fuel to produce power and drinking water was particularly needed.
The meetings are expected to focus on the need to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza following the partial opening of the Rafah crossing from Egypt and how to avoid regional tensions from escalating.
Following its initial disjointed response, the EU has been trying to consolidate its influence on the situation following the incursion by Hamas into Israel on 7 October, which killed 1,400 people.
Israel's bombardment of Gaza in response has killed nearly 5,000 people, according to health officials in Gaza.
Diplomats insist the EU, which is the biggest donor to the Palestinian people, will be pressing the authorities in Egypt and Israel to ensure that desperately needed humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza.
The World Food Programme has said the situation in Gaza is catastrophic and that the 50 or so trucks that have so far crossed into the enclave are a fraction of what is needed.
Diplomats also say that the EU has been intensifying its outreach to neighbouring countries to see how a regional conflagration can be avoided and to establish practical ways in which the EU can help reduce tensions.
It comes as deadly clashes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon intensified over the weekend.
Israeli missiles have also hit airports in Syria, where Iran has a military presence.
EU leaders are gathering in Brussels later this week for a summit that will also be dominated by the crisis in the Middle East.
