2026-07-02

16. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on the findings of the UN independent international commission of inquiry that Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50251/26]

40. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the findings of a UN commission of inquiry to the effect that Israel has deliberately targeted children in the ongoing genocide against Palestinians and that Israeli military operations have continued to cause “unprecedented death, injury and trauma” to Palestinian children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50285/26]

Despite Palestine fading somewhat from the headlines, the UN independent international commission of inquiry has found that Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza by targeting children. All states have a positive duty to act to prevent and stop genocide, so what is the Department doing in reaction to this report and its findings?

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 40 together. Like the Deputy and everybody else who has seen this report or heard about what it contains, I am beyond concerned. The elements and the findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory are absolutely appalling. I stress that because I know there have been attempts to suggest that this is some kind of targeted job, that there is an attempt here to undermine the Israeli Government or the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, or that facts have been made up. This is a completely independent inquiry on the Palestinian territory. It is the first such commission of inquiry report to focus specifically on children and it adds new evidence and analysis to previous reports. It is a significant piece of work and something we take extremely seriously. I want to stress that. I think all member states do and all countries should take it extremely seriously. As I said, the findings are disturbing, in particular the finding that the Israel Defense Forces have deliberately targeted children. We have all probably seen footage or clips or heard accounts from doctors in particular, where there are children coming in with very specific injuries and where the view is very clear that they have been targeted directly. Importantly, and more horrifically, it suggests that post ceasefire, this action is still happening. It is absolutely devastating and has to be investigated further. We would fully support any further investigation by the UN or any other independent commission of inquiry in this regard. Israel must respect international and humanitarian law, and this report very clearly shows that it is not doing so. Clear obligations exist, as set out under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They must be adhered to. All state parties have to uphold the rights of children in armed conflict and this report very clearly says that is not the case. The report was the focus of a side event on 26 June hosted by the Palestinian mission in Geneva with Save the Children during the ongoing session of the Human Rights Council. We co-sponsored this event alongside Spain and South Africa. The commission of genocide is ultimately a matter of law that must be determined by a court or a judicial body. South Africa has taken the case. I mentioned earlier that under the Genocide Convention, we have filed a declaration of intervention in that case specifically with the ICJ. We continue to follow the case very closely. We have also filed a detailed written submission with the ICJ as part of the advisory proceedings concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the UN and other international organisations, as well as states, in the occupied Palestinian territories. We have vocally and consistently called for appropriate actions in response to Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We use all the tools at our disposal - political, legal and diplomatic - to advocate for peace, accountability and an end to the Israeli Government's devastating policies in Gaza and the West Bank. We fully support accountability for Israel's egregious breaches of international law. To that effect, I have made it very clear in my engagement on this matter - and not just with the EU High Representative, Ms Kaja Kallas - that during our Presidency, this matter will remain firmly on the agenda. This is a matter in respect of which I believe the EU needs to do more. Our credibility is completely at stake, if not already somewhat on the floor, regarding this matter. We need to be stronger in responding to what are very clear international human rights violations. There is a report here that says children are being specifically targeted in a conflict and in a post-conflict environment. If this does not make other countries stand up and listen, then I am not sure what else will. I have no doubt that at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council which Ireland will host as part of its Presidency on 13 July other member states will reference this. It is something I will be strongly highlighting in our discussion with the Commission, when it brings forward - and I am assured it will have them before that meeting - proposals on how the EU could potentially respond collectively to what is happening. I know it is specific to the West Bank but, as far as I am concerned, any of the actions we take are in response to the West Bank, the situation in Lebanon, the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza and all of these reports that suggest what we thought and somewhat knew was happening prior to the ceasefire is unfortunately still happening on the ground.

Unfortunately, we are out of time. That concludes oral questions to the Minister for foreign affairs.