Taoiseach calls on ‘strong EU response’ to Israel over war in Gaza

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

It is “incomprehensible” to European citizens that the bloc does not seem to be in a position to pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin said he would be raising the “dire, catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza with other EU leaders during a high-level meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

He said the situation “cries out for a strong political response from Europe”, adding that he will call on his counterparts to consider the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

A review of the agreement found indications that Israel had breached human rights obligations contained within the deal.

Mr Martin has previously said he wants the agreement to be suspended after saying Israel has “clearly broken” the human rights clauses.

However, he said there are historical reasons why some member states have differing perspectives on the matter, but added: “From a humanitarian perspective, it is incomprehensible what is going on, what continues to go on, and Europe needs to really articulate that in the strongest possible way.”

He said Israel should respect “all clauses” of its association agreement with the EU, including those on human rights.

Mr Martin said other countries, for example, the UK, Norway and Canada, had issued further sanctions against settlers in the West Bank and against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

“These are issues that the European Union should look at, as well as the Association Agreement.”

Mr Martin told reporters: “I will be saying to my European colleagues that the people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to pressure on Israel and leverage on Israel to stop this war in Gaza, to stop the continuing slaughter of children and innocent civilians.

“The war must stop.

“There must be a humanitarian response and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza and an end to the blockade.”

Mr Martin said Ireland will be seeking to pursue mechanisms to ensure that “this war stops and that humanitarian aid gets in urgently to Gaza”.

Asked about Israel’s criticism of the review as “outrageous”, Mr Martin said: “Israel needs to stop denouncing every report that comes out using objective criteria to describe the situation in Gaza.

“It’s not an outrage.

“The review, in some respects, some could argue, is quite a modest document that seeks to objectively present the facts in relation to Gaza.”

“But it avoids emotional language and so on, so I think that kind of tactic and pattern of undermining those who would even question what’s happening in Gaza, that also has to stop.”