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Israelis. I urge all involved to support and engage in the efforts that are under way to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Today, I met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, which is one of the key interlocutors … terms of trying to bring about a ceasefire. I now believe based on that conversation that there is a real window of opportunity to get a ceasefire, to get humanitarian aid flowing and to get the hostages released and people need to seize this opportunity. Let us take

months of horror, to wake up to the news, as we did this morning, that perhaps there will be a 60-day ceasefire will be welcomed by most people. Of course we will welcome it if it happens but for a number of reasons it is hard … have confidence in a ceasefire in this conflict. One reason is that the person who announced it this morning, Donald Trump, has a poor record in foreign policy. I will come back to that a couple of times. Let us consider the comments and reaction of Israel

part of a peace agreement. We also discussed how the EU can apply more pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire and engage seriously in peace efforts. It was agreed that strengthening sanctions against Russia is key to this effort. The European Council therefore agreed … obligations under international humanitarian law. We must use all available levers to bring this awful conflict to an end. There must be a ceasefire leading to a permanent end to the conflict. All remaining hostages must be released. The people of Gaza and the loved ones of those

this position again. Ireland strongly condemns the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza. We urgently need an end to hostilities and a permanent ceasefire. We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023. The taking of hostages is unconscionable and I call … keep the focus on Gaza and the West Bank amid the wider regional instabilities. The EU is united in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages and immediate unimpeded access to, and distribution of, humanitarian aid in Gaza. Ireland has been

local journalists to report on the crisis. Foreign press access to Gaza remains banned. When witnesses are silenced, truth is removed. The ceasefire and hostage deal brokered in January offered a fragile, but real, hope to both Israelis and Palestinians and I am glad to hear the Government … serious talks to secure a comprehensive agreement. The United States has now reported that Israel has agreed in principle to a 60-day ceasefire. President Trump has urged Hamas to accept it, but detail remains uncertain and Hamas has yet to respond, although it has indicated willingness

thank the Minister of State. I warmly welcome her response. Please God, we need to prepare now for life after the ceasefire. When this brutality stops, the key words of the NGOs are to the effect that we need a permanent solution … back here again in six months' time. We must watch closely the set-up in that regard, but, first, there must be a ceasefire. I mentioned young people. As part of the recovery we must look at their mentality, or else we will have a world swarming with

narrow path, but we believe the ICJ advisory opinion provides a path as well. The big priority right now has to be a ceasefire. The Deputy is right in saying the humanitarian aid is beyond urgent and the release of the hostages is beyond urgent too. I believe … some progress is being made in the ceasefire talks. I met the Qatari Prime Minister on this last week. However, those talks need to deliver a resolution. In relation to the European position, Kaja Kallas and the likes, of course the European Union has significantly increased its contribution

Ireland, of the human rights abuses and a promised review of the Israel-EU association agreement. There is tentative hope that a ceasefire brokered by the US will supersede this and allow a massive humanitarian aid programme to begin. Ireland should continue to campaign for a ceasefire that

Gaza and to the horror that is unfolding to them and which has gone on for too long, in calling for a ceasefire, in making the case for a review of the trading relationship with Israel within the European Union, in the work the Taoiseach … that, what we will do is continue with the patient political work that is needed to make a difference with regard to a ceasefire and to support the people of Gaza in their hour of greatest need

reconstruction conference hosted by Egypt. Reconstruction is a long way from where we are at the moment. We all hope for a ceasefire. I know there is some talk about that at this moment but, as ever, things develop at the rate of hours and hope … horizon can, unfortunately, be quickly extinguished. We hope for a ceasefire but it is important that we not simply frame what is happening in Gaza in the context of a humanitarian situation. We also need a political solution and it needs to be hinged on the two-state

strikes and infringements of Lebanon's airspace in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. All sides must meet their commitments under the ceasefire agreement. Ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon also undermine the legitimacy of President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam as they continue to assert the primacy … keep pushing. We need to hold firm and work together as a House and in the European Union to demand a lasting ceasefire, the flow of humanitarian aid, the return of hostages and the passing of the most effective occupied territories Bill and that we work towards

people of Gaza, as highlighted by the €58 million to UNRWA, among other moneys. We have repeatedly called for a ceasefire with the immediate release of hostages. We recognised the State of Palestine when other countries did not do so. We have shown the way across Europe, along … making this statement. I am with the Government and what it is doing. I call again on Israel to have a ceasefire as soon as possible so we can start to rebuild Gaza with what is required for the future peace and prosperity of the people

done. I listened intently, as have all members of the committee, to the discussion on the six key requirements: an immediate ceasefire; recognition of the State of Palestine; challenge the EU-Israel trade agreement; and address the brutality of what is happening in the occupied territories. We must

well as our deep concerns regarding the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for humanitarian access at scale and a ceasefire and a hostage release deal. Ireland was clear in reiterating the need for the EU to respond in an effective manner. Against this backdrop

Bill, but the future, the rebuilding of Palestine and the two-state solution, which is what we think the answer is. Once a ceasefire and two states are achieved, it will be a question of how to put the resources into rebuilding Palestine and finding

colleagues have, the positive steps the Taoiseach's Government has taken, and we acknowledge those, including support for the UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza and, crucially, recognition by Ireland of the State of Palestine. We welcome that, just as we welcomed last month's action

there yet. We have to engage with Europe and the US in order to keep that pressure on the need for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages but above

indiscriminate and direct targeting of civilians, called on parties to oblige by their obligations under international law and called for an immediate ceasefire and sustainable resolution of the conflict through dialogue. We continue to respond to the crisis in close co-ordination with our EU and international partners

contribute to a co-ordinated and consolidated effort by the international community as a whole to support a return to a ceasefire, a hostage release agreement and a surge of humanitarian access into Gaza. This all makes it possible to safeguard the two-state solution and to work

international actors that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is not operating in accordance with any humanitarian principles or law. I welcome the fact that ceasefire talks are under way. I had the opportunity to speak to the Qatari Prime Minister and foreign minister in Dublin last week. I commend

this sort of stuff, and this is what goes on in reality. We have two presidents - one who is willing to accept a ceasefire without condition to try to get into substantive peace talks, and one who keeps on avoiding that reality. Last night was really a night

have a discussion about the future of Gaza and how to begin to build a two-state solution. I acknowledge that intense ceasefire talks are under way. We really hope they yield progress in the coming days

continued Israeli settler incursions in the West Bank. The European Council's conclusions state: The European Council calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza... It deplores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation. The European Council calls

translates into something successful. Where stands the commitment to continue to work with partners in the region to advocate for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the surge of humanitarian aid? Israel killed 60 people in Gaza yesterday. It is shelling what

this House and those across the EU and the international community must keep the pressure on for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, full humanitarian access and a return to diplomacy. The stakes and the continued impact on civilians could not be higher. The time

update on his Department's recent engagements with the Government of Ukraine regarding the ongoing conflict and efforts made to reach a ceasefire. [38033/25