Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is a longstanding and consistent supporter of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its indispensable mandate to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees. We have already provided €20 million in core funding to the Agency in 2024, for it work with Palestinian refugees across its five fields of operation, including Gaza.

UNRWA is the backbone to the humanitarian response in Gaza. The Agency has faced continual attacks on its premises, operations, staff and reputation throughout this conflict. More than 190 of its staff have been killed.

Given these challenges, Slovenia initiated a process at the United Nations for Member States to align themselves with commitments in support of UNRWA. On May 22, at the UN in New York, Ireland, along with Slovenia, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Algeria, Belgium, Brazil, Guyana, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Qatar launched the initiative to underline our shared commitment to, and political support for the vital role of UNRWA. We committed to continuing to support the Agency to uphold its mandate. The shared commitments include recognition of UNRWA’s unique role in Gaza, its role in regional stability, its financial crisis, the tireless efforts of UNRWA staff, and the importance of implementing the recommendations of the recent Colonna report on maintaining neutrality in all its operations. They also emphasise the importance of all States cooperation with the Agency, among others.

The Shared Commitments on UNRWA have been circulated to the full UN membership and remain open for all UN member states to join. We encourage all to do so.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 24 May, the Ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain were called in to the Israeli Foreign Ministry to discuss the consequences of these three countries formally recognising the State of Palestine. During this meeting, the Ambassadors were shown footage of Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv was not told in advance that this meeting would be attended by Israeli media.

We are disappointed Israel took those steps. It is particularly disappointing that the Israeli Foreign Ministry chose to abandon diplomatic norms by broadcasting a meeting between officials on a highly serious and sensitive subject. Ireland has consistently condemned the horrific acts of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas and other militant groups on 7 October 2023.

We wish to maintain our bilateral relationship with Israel. I remain committed to the pursuit of constructive cooperation with Israel in line with Ireland’s full support for the two-State solution. It is precisely at times of conflict and tension that diplomacy is most useful, and it is most important to maintain open channels of communication.