Ireland has joined 10 other European countries calling for Israel to halt demolitions of the headquarters belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities.
The joint letter was signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee and the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK.
It described the demolition as an unprecedented act which marked the "latest unacceptable move" to undermine a UN agency's ability to operate.
"We reiterate our full support for UNRWA's indispensable mission to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including east Jerusalem," it stated.
It said UNRWA must be allowed to operate without restrictions, and welcomed the agency's commitment to reform and implementation of recommendations in the Colonna Report.
The Colonna Report was commissioned in April 2024 following Israeli allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks.
The group of ministers also highlighted how Israel had agreed to US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, which committed to allowing aid into Gaza and distributed by the UN and Red Crescent without interference.
It added: "We call on the government of Israel to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law.
"Despite the increase in aid entering Gaza, conditions remain dire and supply is inadequate for the needs of the population."
