Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he unreservedly condemns Israeli plans to escalate its offensive in Gaza and to occupy Gaza City.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said the plans show a "complete disregard for international law and will have catastrophic consequences for the civilian population of Gaza who are already in dire need of humanitarian assistance".
"We need an end to this war, not an escalation," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson for Mr Martin added that Ireland will continue to work towards securing an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hotages and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale into Gaza.
"We will do everything we can with EU and international partners to seek a peaceful resolution on the basis of a two state solution," the spokesperson said.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris described the decision by the Israeli security cabinet to occupy Gaza City as "alarming".
Watch: Tánaiste Simon Harris says Israeli decision to occupy Gaza City is 'alarming'
He said: "It's extraordinarily concerning and worrying at a time when we should be seeing de-escalation, a ceasefire, a significant surge in humanitarian aid and of course the release of the hostages.
"The decision taken by the Netanyahu government is going to worsen all of those scenarios.
"Israel must really step back from the brink. The international community is speaking with one voice.
"This so-called plan is disastrous; it will see an increase in genocidal activity.
"The people of Gaza have suffered far too much and Ireland joins with nations around the world in asking that Israel now respect the International Court of Justice, bring about a ceasefire, see the hostages released and see humanitarian aid surge."
Meanwhile, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called on Israel to reconsider its plan.
"The Israeli government's decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered," she said in a post on X.
She also urged the release of all hostages and the "immediate and unhindered access" for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
"A ceasefire is needed now," Ms von der Leyen said.
The Israeli government's decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 8, 2025
At the same time, there must be the release of all hostages, who are being held in inhumane conditions.
And humanitarian aid must be given immediate and unhindered access to…
It comes after Israel's political security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City.
The country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the Israeli Defence Forces "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones".
Hamas has described Israel's plan as a "war crime", adding that the Israeli government "does not care about the fate of its hostages".
Meanwhile, Germany has said that it will halt the export of military equipment to Israel which could be used in Gaza.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz made the announcement, reacting to Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City.
The arms export freeze marks a dramatic change of course for the German government, which has long been one of Israel's staunchest international allies.
Mr Merz said it was "increasingly difficult to understand" how the latest Israeli military plan would help achieve the aims of disarming Hamas and freeing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia has also rejected Israel's plan, lambasting it for the "starvation" and "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in the blockaded territory.
Riyadh said it "condemns in the strongest and most forceful terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip", in a foreign ministry statement on X.
It added that it "categorically condemns its persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people".
Earlier, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that Israel was "wrong" to approve its new plans over Gaza, urging it to reconsider the new offensive.
He insisted that Israel should deescalate, rather than launch the operation.
"The Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately," Mr Starmer said.
"This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed."
Meanwhile, Belgium has said that it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over Israel's plans to "take military control" of Gaza City.
"The aim is clearly to express our total disapproval of this decision, but also of the continued colonisation," Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot posted on X.
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Additional reporting Reuters, PA, AFP
