Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Davos for the World Economic Forum, which has so far been dominated by the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Mr Varadkar is expected to meet a number of world leaders and hold bilateral talks with the chief executive officers of several global corporations.
He arrived in Davos last night and went straight to a dinner hosted by IDA Ireland, which included the CEOs of leading multinationals including Stripe, Hewlett Packard, AstraZeneca, and Open AI.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival, the Taoiseach said Belgium had a similar position on the Middle East in wanting an immediate ceasefire and a peace process that would lead to a two state solution.
Mr Varadkar will hold follow up meetings with around half a dozen CEOs later this morning.
This afternoon he will join a panel discussion on artificial intelligence alongside Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF, Dmitro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister and Nick Clegg, the global affairs president of Meta, formerly Facebook.
Israel's president Isaac Herzog urged world leaders to reject the genocide case brought against his country at the International Court of Justice by South Africa.
He said any outcome to the war in Gaza must result in the removal of the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas.
President Herzog’s role is mainly ceremonial, but he reaffirmed his government’s position over the role of Hamas, and the rejection of the charge of genocide, which is currently being adjudicated at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
He told delegates in Davos that he hoped a consignment of medication entering Gaza, following negotiations involving France and Qatar, would reach the remaining Israeli hostages still being held captive.
President Herzog depicted Israel’s military operation as a step towards more peaceful relations with Palestinians and regional neighbours in the future, although he said he would not shy away from what he called the human tragedy being inflicted on civilians in Gaza.
During a breakfast meeting, meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the West to ramp up support to Ukraine, especially in the sphere of air defence systems.
He said Ukraine would work with whoever entered the White House next year.
The Taoiseach attended the Washington Post Foreign Policy lunch and will take part in a panel discussion later this afternoon on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on society.
Read more: Look beyond profit to heal 'lacerated world', pope tells Davos leaders
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Iraqi leader again demands US-led coalition leave
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani repeated his call for the US-led international anti-jihadist coalition to depart his country amid soaring regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.
"The end of the international coalition mission is a necessity for the security and stability of Iraq," he said during a televised event.
"It is also a necessity for preserving constructive bilateral relations between Iraq and the coalition countries."
Mr Sudani, whose government relies on the support of Iran-aligned parties, has repeatedly said in recent weeks he would like to see foreign troops leave Iraq.
His remarks came after the United States carried out strikes on pro-Iran groups in response to attacks since mid-October on American and other coalition forces deployed in Iraq since 2014 in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group.
Hunt to tell Davos: Britain is open for business
British Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will tell political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum that the UK is "on the up and open for business".
Mr Hunt's trip to the exclusive Swiss ski resort to join the annual gathering of international movers and shakers will be the first time a UK chancellor has attended the forum in five years.
The Treasury said the Chancellor will use his visit to champion the UK's ambition to be a science and technology superpower and pitch that the country is ripe for investment from the international business community.
Ahead of his trip today, Mr Hunt said: "I'll be in Davos to tell the world that Britain, a nation of great innovation, is on the up and open for business.
"We boast some of the best and brightest businesses in sectors of the future like digital technology and life sciences.
"It is these areas of strength that are going to drive growth across the UK economy in years to come."
