The wars in Gaza and Ukraine dominated a two-day meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Warsaw, which concluded this afternoon.
The informal meeting is part of a series of events being held by Poland during its presidency of the Council of the EU.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond told RTÉ News that there "was considerable discussion in relation to the ongoing horrors" in Gaza.
Mr Richmond, attending the meeting in Warsaw, said "an overwhelming majority in the room" were clear that Israel's ongoing and proposed new offensive as well as the lack of access to humanitarian aid entering Gaza was "simply unacceptable".
"I would have made the case very, very clearly, consistently with the Irish position that we're over 60 days now when basic medicines, food, shelter simply cannot get into Gaza.
"We are witnessing people dying on our screens due to a blockade that must be the first and most immediate priority of all actors," said Mr Richmond.
Yesterday, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, along with the foreign ministers of Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain and Slovenia signed a joint statement expressing "grave concern" over plans by the Israeli government to expand its military operations in Gaza.
"There are a number of member states who perhaps have slightly closer relations with Israel than we do, and they have taken it on board that they will engage directly with the Israeli government, but we need to work more united as the European Union," said Mr Richmond.
Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares Bueno told RTÉ News that he believed other EU member states would sign up to the joint statement calling on Israel to halt its plans for a new offensive in Gaza.
"I think that it's high time that the European Union speaks up, is speaking on behalf of the civilian population in Gaza, is speaking up on behalf of international law," said Mr Albares Bueno.
Yesterday, Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp wrote to the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas, requesting a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a free trade deal that has been in place for 25 years.
In the letter, seen by RTÉ News, Mr Veldkamp wrote: "I will withhold the support of the Netherlands for extending the EU-Israel Action Plan pending a review of Article 2".
Article 2 of the agreement established the principle that both parties respect human rights and the principles of democracy.
"It's an important signal to send, because I have great concerns about the continuous blockade by Israel of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and about the latest decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet last Sunday to intensify the war effort," Mr Veldkamp said at the conclusion of the Warsaw meeting.
Both Ireland and Spain called for a review of the EU-Israel agreement on a number of occasions last year, on the grounds that Israel was not fulfilling the terms of the same clause, Article 2.
The decision by the Dutch foreign ministry to request the review marks a shift in Dutch foreign policy, given the Netherlands’ strong historic support for Israel.
Speaking at the closing press conference, Ms Kallas said that a "majority of European countries agreed that the situation in Gaza is untenable".
Ministers also discussed EU support for Ukraine, including the bloc's proposed 17th sanctions package against Russia.
Ms Kallas called on more pressure to be placed on Russia to engage in peace talks.
She confirmed that a number of EU foreign ministers would travel to Ukraine tomorrow to mark Europe Day, also the date which Russia marks as Victory Day over Nazi Germany.
All those, said Ms Kallas, "who truly support peace should be in Ukraine tomorrow, not Moscow".
She said that the EU would tomorrow endorse its plans for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal in Ukraine.
EU ministers also held talks this afternoon with the foreign ministers of EU candidate and applicant countries - Ukraine, Moldova, the six Western Balkans countries - and Turkey.
