Tánaiste Micheál Martin has condemned what he sees as a deliberate strategy of Israel targeting civilians and children in Gaza. The Israeli airstrike on a repurposed school serving as a shelter, resulted in approximately 100 fatalities and left another 47 wounded, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Last October, when Israel initiated the invasion of Gaza, Mr Martin issued one of his most potent rebukes, implying that the methodical targeting by the IDF of civilian shelters, including those occupied by children, seemed to be part of an intentional strategy.
“The horrific bloodshed needs to cease,” he urged, “To me, it appears as if Israel is systematically planning and facilitating the massacre of civilians and children.”
“Although they claim to be focused on Hamas, they must be aware that their attacks have resulted in enormous civilian casualties,” he further added.
Likewise, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Martin, admonished the Israeli weekend assault on a Gaza school that was providing refuge to displaced Palestinians, an attack which resulted in around 100 casualties. Such attacks on school-based shelters have occurred four times in the past month, Israel maintains that the school was harbouring Hamas militants.
Mr Martin voiced his concerns to journalists on a recent Sunday. He emphasised the immediate need for a ceasefire, facilitated by peace negotiations held in Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
He expressed his horror at the ongoing crisis, noting that the issues of health, food, and disease were intensifying amidst the killing of innocents.
Given the recent surge in violence, “The risk of a broader escalation is ever-present,” he warned. Using this opportunity to appeal for restraint, he said, “People need to withdraw from the current situation.”
Mr Martin acknowledged the dreadful nature of the Hamas attack on October 7 but stated that it did not warrant Israel’s fierce response, which has laid waste to Gaza.
“When Israel decides to plummet 2,000-pound bombs into Gaza, they should be well aware that many innocent lives will be needlessly lost or brutally ended,” stated Taoiseach Simon Harris. Reaching the weekend, he anticipated the dreadfully sombre event of Gaza witnessing 40,000 fatalities.
He warned of the escalating evidence that indicated a severely prolonged humanitarian disaster in progress. Harris additionally enforced the urgency of fully implementing all orders given by the International Court of Justice, demanding cessation to the ‘unlawful’ occupation of the Gaza Strip by Israel.
“In the past 10 months, the number of innocent lives lost has been far too extensive,” Harris commented, indicating the fatal consequences of the conflict. “We are standing on the brink of a terrible instance, whilst all effective measures to cease this violence are being neglected.”
Harris reiterated his call for an immediate and critical examination of the agreement between EU-Israel Association, highlighting its included human rights clauses. “The EU’s continuous rendering of these clauses as futile is entirely unjustifiable,” he explained.
Harris appealed for a swift and ceaseless ceasefire, the unconditional freeing of the Israelis held captive, and unobstructed aid movement for humanitarian support.
Upon being questioned on Harris’s remarks about the crucial need for an immediate review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and specifically its human rights clauses, Mr Martin stated that as an individual nation, Ireland has exerted all possible efforts. However, he conceded that not everyone in the EU can be swayed by Ireland’s effort.
“We’ve managed to implement significant improvements in the dialogue,” he said, before pointing out that some EU member states remain hesitant in endorsing the inclusion of human rights in the agreement.
Martin further voiced his discontent at the lack of unity within the EU over the Gaza dispute and admitted that their handling of the situation would be harshly judged by history.
“International humanitarian law obliges us to maintain a moral balance and necessitates proportionate actions,” he concluded.