Ireland among nations urging Israel to abandon plans to occupy Gaza city

Ireland is among eight European nations that have urged Israel to abandon its plans to occupy Gaza City.

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, signed the letter on Sunday along with representatives from Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

The letter states that the countries “strongly condemn the recent announcement of the intensification of the occupation and the military offensive, including in Gaza city”.

It said Israel’s plan to expand its military operation and take control of Gaza City would force the displacement of a million Palestinians and “further endanger” the remaining hostages’ lives.

The signing comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas”.

He also pushed back against what he called a “global campaign of lies” as condemnation of the plan grows both inside and outside Israel.

The letter from eight European nations said: “We firmly reject any demographic or territorial changes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Actions in this regard constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

“The intensification of the military offensive and the occupation of Gaza City represents a serious obstacle to the implementation of the two-state solution, which is the only path towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

“The Gaza Strip must be an integral part of the state of Palestine, along with the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

“The recognition of both Palestine and Israel is the best security guarantee for both and will ensure stability for the whole region.

“We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire agreement and a permanent end to hostilities, for the immediate release of all hostages at the hands of Hamas and for the rapid, unimpeded and large-scale entry of humanitarian aid. Hamas cannot have a role in the future governance or security arrangements in Gaza, and must be disarmed.”

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Harris said this was “an extraordinarily dangerous moment” for Palestinians in Gaza.

“We’re living at a time where children are starving in Gaza and where there had been a lot of effort by a lot of countries, including Ireland, to try to get to a moment of de-escalation, where finally there could be a ceasefire, humanitarian aid could flow, hostages could be released.

“We now see the Netanyahu government take an extraordinarily dangerous step in the absolute wrong direction, and we are joining today with a number of other European countries… in calling this out for what it is and condemning these actions.

“We will continue to use every lever available here in this country and working across the European Union and the international community to call for a reversal here, a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and a major surge in humanitarian aid.

“I think people in Ireland know what famine is like. It’s ingrained in our mindset, in our history, and to be seeing a modern day famine take place in the 21st century is utterly repulsive and repugnant to everything any decent person can stand.”