Ireland and five other countries have warned that Israel's plans to expand military operations in Gaza would mark a "dangerous new escalation".
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain expressed their "grave concern" about a further military escalation in Gaza, saying it would "only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation for the civilian Palestinian population and threaten the lives of the hostages that remain in captivity".
They also called for Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow aid into the territory.
The statement, which was co-signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste Simon Harris, said: "We firmly reject any demographic or territorial change in Gaza, including any scheme that would force or facilitate the permanent displacement of its population, which would be in violation of international law.
"We also strongly oppose a system that does not ensure that the entire population gets access to humanitarian aid.
"Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine, which belongs to the Palestinian people.
The six countries also urged Israel to show restraint in Gaza and called for the immediate resumption of a ceasefire.
Joining today with my 🇮🇸 🇱🇺 🇳🇴 🇸🇮 and 🇪🇸 colleagues expressing our grave concern about the Israeli plans and actions in Gaza. The international community must act now at this decisive moment to avert further catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/XUbl3pMzj1
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 7, 2025
"We call on the Israeli authorities to show restraint.
"We further call on Israel to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations and humanitarian organisations, the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance," the statement added.
Opposition calls for more action on Gaza
The Social Democrats again called on the Government to urgently pass the Occupied Territories Bill and not to dilute it.
Sinéad Gibney said what was happening now in Gaza is genocide with multiple war crimes and the transgression of multiple international humanitarian laws.
She said that she welcomed the urgency introduced to the language of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste but while she believed that was sincerely held, more could be done.
Ms Gibney called for the rapid enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill as well as the stopping by the Central Bank of the sale of Israeli war bonds.
Mr Harris indicated that while his department is working on preparing an Occupied Territories Bill, the focus is solely on a ban on goods trade rather than services.
Ms Gibney said this was a red herring and there was no legal reason for it.
"To do it in this case would essentially water it down so much further as to render it meaningless. It's a red herring. It's unnecessary," she said.
She also called for planes to be checked to stop the use of Irish airspace for transport of munitions and weapons.
"Ireland needs to use its leverage at EU level to see EU recognition of Palestinian statehood to see sanctions against Israel and to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement."
Earlier, Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has said "the time for talk has long passed" and that Ireland and the EU must act against what is happening in Gaza.
Speaking at Leinster House this morning after Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday described Israeli actions in Gaza as "a war crime", Ms Kerrane said a number of steps must now take place.
She said these include passing the Occupied Territories Bill before summer, which Ms Kerrane said would "send a signal".
Asked about what impact this could have on Ireland's relationship with the US, Ms Kerrane said: "I don't think we can be concerned about our relationship with the US" when it comes to discussing Gaza."
EU urges Israel to lift Gaza blockade, warns against new aid delivery plan
The European Union renewed an urgent call for Israel to immediately lift the blockade on Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and warned against Israel's planned new aid delivery mechanism.
"As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the population in need," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, and Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica in a joint statement.
The statement also urged a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages, while expressing concern over a new aid delivery system approved by Israel on 4 May.
The statement said the new system undermined humanitarian principles by outsourcing aid distribution to non-humanitarian actors and private security firms - a move criticised by the UN and aid groups
Additional reporting Sandra Hurley, Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Reuters
