Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste of Ireland, has publicly criticised what he described as the “brutal” air attacks by Israel that struck a tented encampment in the embattled city of Rafah in Gaza and resulted in the deaths of a minimum of 35 civilians. His comments were made during a media briefing in Brussels.
Mr. Martin, who also serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, responded to claims interpreting Ireland’s recognition of Palestine as a state as an endorsement of the violent activities of Hamas militants. He argued that such a viewpoint was entirely inaccurate.
Israel’s reaction to this decision, he added, went beyond standard diplomatic parameters and cast Israel in an unflattering light.
At least 35 casualties were recorded on Sunday night due to an Israeli offensive that directly impacted a unit of tents, where internally displaced persons were sheltering in the southern region of Gaza’s city, Rafah.
The force behind the latest appalling air strikes, despite the directive from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday instructing Israel to promptly cease its attacks on the city, was entirely condemned by Mr. Martin.
The Israeli army, in response, explained that it had targeted a Hamas establishment through its air force but was currently assessing reports of a resulting fire woundings among civilians.
Mr. Martin made it clear that all relief organisations had forecasted that any military attack on Rafah would be especially catastrophic for Palestinian civilians. He repeated calls for a ceasefire, the liberation of those apprehended by Hamas, and for a monumental influx of humanitarian assistance into the area.
Mr. Martin made these statements in the company of Spain and Norway’s foreign ministers, who, like Ireland, had also decided to acknowledge Palestine as a state.
Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, raised the suggestion that Israel should face potential EU action if found to be in breach of the recent ICJ directive. He argued that they needed to vocally support not only an immediate ceasefire but also upholding global law and the United Nations’ charter.
Mr. Albares declared his intent to bring up the issue at the forthcoming EU foreign affairs ministers’ meeting on Monday, with the aim of securing their support for the United Nations court’s decision. He said stringent measures should be taken to enforce the court’s resolution if Israel continued to flout it.
Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, describes the continuing conflict in Gaza as a “nadir” in Middle Eastern history. The minister points out that excessive violence in Gaza has bred fear among Israelis of terrorist acts and missile assaults. Additionally, unlawful settlement enlargement and settler violence in the West Bank are further adding to the tensions.
Eide, the Norwegian official, remarks that the 1993 Oslo agreement between Palestine and Israel was undermined due to allowing too much leeway to forces resistant to the two-state proposal.
Mr Martin expressed his anticipation for more EU nations to acknowledge Palestine as a state in an endeavour to establish a “fair and enduring resolution”. He added that this effort would expel the prominence of “occupation and terrorism, dispossession and displacement”.
Mr Martin, attended a gathering on Sunday evening of European and Arab politicians where the Gaza conflict was put forward for discussion. He emphasised the necessity for the EU to promptly back the modifications brought about by the Palestinian Authority (PA), who are in control of certain regions of the West Bank.
According to Mr Martin, this could pave a pathway for the PA to introduce “efficient governance” across the Palestinian territory.