Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland is ready to play its part in helping to achieve a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Addressing the UN General Assembly during a summit on a two-state solution last night, Mr Martin said there may not be another opportunity to achieve a two-state solution unless the international community acts now.
"If we do not move now to protect the two-state solution, if we do not work to build a process through which it can be achieved, there may never be another opportunity."
Mr Martin welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state by a number of countries this week and urged others to follow suit.
"We know that there are people, including in the Israeli government, who are working to make that outcome impossible," the Taoiseach added.
During the address, the Taoiseach described the actions of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory: "More than 65,000 people killed in Gaza. Horrifically more than 20,000 of them children.
"The use of food as a weapon of war, scarcity becoming hunger, becoming famine. Hospitals attacked, homes and schools destroyed.
"Thousands of years of culture wiped out. People shot as they desperately seek food for their families. Aid workers, journalists targeted and killed."
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Mr Martin also paid tribute to humanitarian workers, medics and journalists in Gaza, saying the situation there must move political leaders to action.
"We have reached a point where what has been credibly described as a genocide is being carried out in front of the eyes of the world.
"It would be easy to just despair, but we must not. Gaza must move us to action."
Mr Martin paid tribute to the humanitarian workers, medics and journalists who he said are determined to do their best for Gaza with "extraordinary courage and without regard to their own safety".
"To honour them and the Palestinian people, it is right that we as political leaders play our part too.
"The only credible destination is a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security."
'World needs to take more action'
ActionAid Palestine, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Riham Jafari has said that the recognition of Palestine is welcomed but the decision is not enough to end the suffering of people there.
Yesterday, France recognised a Palestinian state, joining Western allies such as Britain and Canada who made the same historic move and were rebuked by Israel.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, Ms Jafari said that the decision to recognise a Palestinian state should be followed by "concrete action" to end the suffering of people in Palestine.
"Before the recognition of those states, there are more than 145 countries recognising Palestinian state, but the violations of human rights and international law and war crimes and genocide are continued in Gaza and West Bank," she said.
"So now the world needs to take more action. Recognition of a Palestinian state, it is not a favour or a bargaining chip.
"It is a moral and illegal obligation by the states, according to international law."
When asked if a two-state solution was viable, Ms Jafari said that it was "if the world practices pressures on Israel to end settlement, end illegal settlement and to end illegal occupation in the West Bank.
"But if settlement is continued, if annexation is continued and enforced on the West Bank, I think the two-state solution will be impossible."
