The office of the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., sent me an answer following the fax I sent to the EU Ministries of Foreign Affairs, asking them to assume their 
responsibilities toward the Palestinians under international laws and treaties which their countries had signed. What is this that suddenly international treaties and even national laws are worth nothing? Are the Jews above the law? Why is Livni not thrown in jail when she goes to France? Does France not have a law specifically against genocide? what is exactly what this disgusting woman is doing as a part of her electoral campaign?
Minister Martin has made a number of public statements expressing his concerns and those of the Government, attaching priority to ending the violence and meeting the humanitarian needs of the victims. I attach for your information copies of those statements.
The Minister continues to believe that it is imperative for the two sides to accept the basic outline of an end to the conflict set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1860, and agree an immediate ceasefire. Work to persuade the parties continues both at the UN in New York and particularly in the region, in particular through the good offices of the Government of Egypt. Ireland and its EU partners will continue to be actively engaged in supporting these efforts. The Irish Ministers Statements are here as PDF: “minister-statements-on-gaza“.
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Condemns Israeli Military Incursion into Gaza
Commenting further on the Israeli ground offensive launched against Gaza last night, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., has repeated his grave concerns about the heavy civilian casualties and suffering resulting from Israeli military actions.
“As has been stated already, the military incursion launched by Israel last evening represents an extremely dangerous escalation of the situation. I condemn this disproportionate use of force by Israel which, as United Nations SG Ban has pointed out, will only further complicate the search for peace and an end to this appalling conflict. I again urge an immediate cessation of hostilities by all sides and the establishment of an effective and sustainable ceasefire. This must include the ending of all rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants on southern Israel as well as the opening of crossing points for the urgent delivery of humanitarian supplies and the facilitation of humanitarian access.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Condemns Latest Atrocity in the Gaza Conflict
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, has today issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli air and artillery strikes on two United Nations-run schools in the Gaza strip which resulted in at least forty people killed, including a number of children.
“I am appalled by these indiscriminate attacks by Israeli forces which has resulted in so many civilian fatalities, including of children, who were simply sheltering from the conflict taking place around them. The death and suffering, as well as the humanitarian deprivation, now being inflicted on the people of Gaza as a result of the continuation of the Israeli Operation Cast Lead cannot be justified in any way and must now be brought to an immediate end.”
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the United Nations staff involved. I know from my continuing contacts with UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) and its Irish Field Director, John Ging, to whom I have spoken today, of the incredibly difficult environment in which humanitarian organisations are now forced to act and of their very real fears that a major humanitarian catastrophe will unfold in Gaza if the current violence does not end soon.”
“I again would like to make the strongest appeal for an immediate cessation of all violence in and from Gaza and for the putting in place of an effective and sustainable ceasefire and the facilitation of urgent humanitarian access. The international community must re-double its efforts to halt the carnage now taking place in Gaza. Ireland will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to achieve the earliest diplomatic resolution of this crisis.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Welcomes the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., has today warmly welcomed the adoption by the UN Security Council of a Resolution calling for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire.
“It is extremely important that the UN Security Council, as the body tasked with the maintenance of international peace and security, has now acted and asserted its wish to see an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire implemented in Gaza.”
“I earnestly hope that Israel and Hamas will immediately respond to this call and agree to cease all hostilities in Gaza or directed against the people of southern Israel. The appalling humanitarian situation now prevailing on the ground in Gaza demands no less than this. I also want to commend the other diplomatic initiatives underway, particularly those undertaken by the Governments of Egypt and France, aimed at ending the violence and ensuring a sustainable ceasefire.”
The Minister also commented on the actions of the Israeli military which yesterday compelled UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) to suspend its operations in Gaza, following the killing of a UNRWA truck driver by Israeli tank fire.
“I am gravely concerned that UNRWA has been forced to take this action. I would remind all sides to the conflict in Gaza of their obligations to comply fully with international humanitarian law, including as regards facilitation of humanitarian operations and not impeding those humanitarian actors seeking to assist the injured and dying.”
“The civilian population of Gaza have already suffered to an appalling degree in this dreadful conflict. Their welfare, through the urgent and unimpeded provision of all necessary humanitarian supplies and an end to the violence, must be the priority now in ensuring that the ceasefire provided for in Resolution 1860 is put in place as speedily as possible.”
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