Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the latest Israeli incursion in Jenin; the action Ireland is taking in relation to this; what engagement he has had with other EU foreign ministers on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34568/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned by the recent incursion by Israeli security forces into Jenin. The operation was significant in scale, involving the use of live fire in a built up civilian area and resulting in numerous casualties. Roads were bulldozed, critical public infrastructure was damaged, more than 3,000 people were displaced, resulting in a significant worsening of the humanitarian situation within the camp. I condemn such impacts on innocent civilians.

I continue to raise the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory as a matter of priority at EU level. While last week’s incursion was ongoing, I was engaged in consultations with the EU Special Representative on the Middle East Peace Process. His programme in Dublin also included exchanges at senior official level, hosted by my Department, on his efforts to reinvigorate a political perspective, which is sorely lacking at the present time. In view of unfolding events, we also exchanged views on the deteriorating security and human rights situation on the ground.

On 4 July, the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, expressed deep concern about the grave escalation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and stressed that civilians, especially children, must be protected under all circumstances and that the use of force must be proportionate and only a means of last resort, when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, in line with international humanitarian law. I welcome that the forthcoming Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July will also afford an opportunity for EU Foreign Ministers to discuss recent developments in Jenin and the wider situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.