Helen McEntee
Meath East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are no new missions, so there is only so much we can partake in. In regard to UN requests over the past ten years, in September 2019, we had 14 Defence Forces personnel deployed to a UN mission in Mali as part of a joint operation with the German armed forces.”
“I thank the Deputy for his continued engagement on this matter. It is appreciated and I reaffirm our shared commitment to truth and justice, not least for Private Rooney, but in particular for his family.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I know he is committed to this issue; I am too. I have in recent months spent some time travelling to different barracks and Army bases and meeting with personnel. What I see all over the country is their professionalism, dedication and commitment.”
“I disagree that people are being pushed into the courts. The situation is exactly the opposite. I have said in the Chamber many times since I started taking these questions that the State Claims Agency is there and wants to mediate and work directly with people in order that cases do not go directly to the courts.”
“We are all committed to strengthening recruitment to and supporting retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,823 personnel on 31 May, the most recent date for which we have a figure available.”
“It is the case that no mission is the same, so it is also a matter for the Defence Forces to assess and scope out the mission and then to decide whether it is a mission we can partake in. A question keeps being asked about what it is we would not be able to be a part of if we were to keep the triple lock.”
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“The Senators will appreciate the difficulties with the argument that we should interpret one rule of international law as requiring us to breach another rule of international law to be compliant with international law. The treaties we have signed up to as part of the European Union require us and set international legal obligations. In bringing forward this legislation, we are trying to make sure that we are compliant. I fully accept that we are going towards it and have said that very clearly, but by making sure at a European level that we then move on services, that will allow us to respond to this. Any suggestion that the Government is not being proactive, or that we are not a Government or a country that takes our legal obligations seriously, is simply not borne out by facts. I have to stress that.”
“I have said that and will say it again. That is absolutely clear. That is what we need to do. We are pursuing the two-pronged approach for the reason I outlined now. It has been said that this is only partial compliance and Senators have implied that this would leave us in breach of our international legal obligations identified by the court. I remind Senators that we are subject to other international law as well. We signed our Treaty of Accession in 1972 to what is now the EU, and we are now equally bound by our international legal obligations as set out in the European treaties. I said this very clearly in the committee. While we have a two-pronged approach with a legal element and implementation, I also said very clearly that we have to comply with our European obligations as well.”
“Again, it is an aside to the debate because the relevance and importance of what we are discussing is important. It is to put it on the record of the House. We have been very clear in what we would progress. We have also been very clear coming straight into Government that we would seek legal advice on the basis that a committee had made recommendations and this is something we wanted to explore as to whether we could and should move forward with services. We are discussing our own obligations here to adhere to international law. Nobody is disagreeing, so we are completely at one when it comes to the ICJ ruling and what it is that we need to do. Our own regulatory impact assessment states that the only reasonable reading of the opinion is that a complete prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements is required.”
“I thank the Senators. I will try to cover all of the different points. While I appreciate we are speaking to one or two amendments, a lot of different issues have been raised. To be honest, I have avoided touching on this point in any of the debates because, as far as I am concerned, it is somewhat irrelevant, but it has been said a number of times in this debate that the Government is rowing back on commitments what we have made. The programme for Government changes and whatever we set or agree can be changed or adapted. We have always given a commitment that we would progress this legislation on goods. I am only saying this because it has been said a number of times in this House and the other House that, as a Government, we are rowing back on commitments we made during or after an election. That is not the case.”
“Whether we agree or disagree with what was said, there were a lot more people in the room who were of the same mind and the same vein as us in terms of what we want to achieve. What I took from that meeting is that the vast majority of countries from around the world have the very same views as us and that is why we are focused on what we were focused on in that meeting in particular, which is supporting people immediately.”
“It might be imperfect. It is wholly imperfect. It is not operating as it should, even at the first stage, but it is has to be something we can work towards and try to achieve because at the moment there is nothing else there for us to be able to progress. It is wholly imperfect but we have to make sure that that in itself, coupled with what we are doing here, makes progress. If we make no progress on the West Bank, the overall objective of that two-state solution and self-determination is gone. This is also where we have to focus, as well as making sure the next stage of the peace process can be progressed. It is difficult at the moment. I was at the meeting, as was said, when Jared Kushner spoke.”
“That is the plan. That is what has been agreed. We can all see that the attention is somewhat elsewhere at the moment. We absolutely need an agreement in Iran. We know the conflict and the impact that is having on the wider region. The more there is a focus on Iran and on Ukraine, the less ability we have to move forward the second stage of the peace plan, which is essential if we are going to ensure the Israel Defense Forces pull back from Gaza and that there is an opportunity for people on the ground to rebuild their lives. I fully agree with the Senator and this is something that will be constantly kept under review and monitored. This will be an agenda point for every single meeting we have during the European Presidency, and even in between our meetings. We need to make sure every single effort is made to progress the peace plan.”
“The main tenor of my discussion with the Prime Minister that evening was how we make sure we support people in the here and now so that they can quite literally survive, and then look beyond rebuilding. We cannot rebuild if 70% of Gaza is occupied by the IDF. There is still a way to go before we concede that this is not going to change. I cannot, and I do not think we should, concede that this is where they are and they are there to stay. That is absolutely unacceptable and completely contrary to international law. However, at the moment we have had no movement. We have to continue to advocate for the peace process to move on to stage two where we start to see a withdrawal from Gaza and an ability for more aid to get in. From a rebuilding perspective we need to focus on more humanitarian aid getting in because there is not enough.”
“I would say that we are showing leadership through this legislation. I appreciate we will debate the view that we are not going far enough, but this is against the view of much of our friends in the EU. We are going further here. I fully accept what the Senator is saying. There is obviously a huge concern in the fact that there is an ambition now that 70% of Gaza would be occupied and the Israeli Government has said that very clearly, even though the second stage of the peace agreement is that it would start to withdraw as Hamas starts to disarm and that there would be a rebuilding. The Senator is right. That was the discussion we had in the donor group the other evening. It is very difficult to talk about rebuilding when people are focused on surviving.”
“I appreciate what the Senator is saying about going beyond that, but I wanted to make sure this legislation is specific to what we are trying to achieve. The complexity of this alone is very clear. To start including others would obviously add an extra layer to what we are talking about here because it would be outside the occupied Palestinian territory.”
“I referenced the reports. The report would be on the postal codes but the postal codes will be updated as they are applied. They are already on the Commission website here, but they will also be posted as they are added to the website. They will be there. There may be something we can do to review at some stage. It is something I am open to doing. On the approach that is being taken by the EU, while there may be differences of opinions within member states as to how far we should go, there is a very clear view that these are, under ICJ law, illegal territories and, therefore, the EU has an obligation to make sure that each occupied territory is noted and that the postal codes are there for people to see. In the legislation itself, the scope is very clearly on the occupied Palestinian territories.”
“It is for those reasons that I will not be accepting the amendment, but I believe our overall objective is exactly the same here and we want to achieve the same outcome. I am satisfied that what is here and the rules that are currently in place are in line with what other member states will be progressing. It makes sure that those who might be in that very small minority within subsection (2) of the postal code section will be protected under this.”
“While we are having other discussions at a European level around banning trade, there are some member states raising the question around how do we make sure that what we have there now is fully compliant, that the technical arrangement is being applied appropriately and that requires each member state to make sure that its customs service is checking that it is compliant with its own obligations as well. No matter what we do here, we have to make sure at home that the Customs is clear as to what it needs to check for, what is allowed and what is not. Every member state has to do that, but also you have the Customs on the ground as well that is asked to check which area it is coming from.”
“In terms of the postal code, this would not come up as an Israeli postal code because they would have to go through the EU-Palestinian Authority trade and co-operation agreement. I completely understand and appreciate that the amendments are intended to make absolutely certain that nobody from the Palestinian community will be captured by this. I believe that, based on the fact that you have the association agreement, the technical agreement and, separately, the Palestinian Authority trade and co-operation agreement, there is a clear delineation as to where the products are coming from or where the communities are coming from, but it is important that the Customs is checking that and that they are complying with this. That applies to all member states individually. To be honest, this is a debate.”
“If it gets to Ireland, there would be very clearly a marking that would be specific to the EU-Palestinian Authority trade and co-operation agreement and there would be no need for them to have to have it taken off the shelf. For them to get that, they have to get approval from the Palestinian Authority and you would not have somebody from an Israeli settlement getting approval from the Palestinian Authority to have that particular route. They rely on the preferential tariff-free access. They do not require the different postal codes. They just have to get that approval from the Palestinian Authority and we are able to differentiate on that basis. To introduce something new or something different, I suppose you are not making it more straightforward. You are potentially creating challenges in that regard.”
“The part 2 element of it is to identify whether the Israeli settlements are on the Israel-proper side of the line or whether they are on the settlement side so that they do or do not get preferential trade treatment. What Senator Black is talking about is within that, if you have a Palestinian exporter that may be part of the part 2 postal code. I would say it is a very small category of individuals, if they do, because Palestinians are not living in settlements. They would not be trading under the association agreement or the technical agreement. They would be trading under the EU-Palestinian Authority trade and co-operation agreement. To the Senator's point, if there is a good that has come from a Palestinian trader, they will not have a marking that has the association agreement on it.”
“Approximately 90%, as the Senator says, of the postal codes listed are part 1 postal codes and these are directly correspondent to Israeli settlements. Less than 10% of the codes are part 2 postal codes and these are essentially the locations that fall on both sides of the green line - the pre-1967 Israel-Palestine border. In practice, it means we are still talking about Israeli settlements, but it is in Israel and in the occupied territories or in the Israeli settlement postal codes. In part 2, the operators are advised to contact the customs authority but this is specifically to state whether they get preferential treatment or otherwise.”
“They have to comply with that as well. This is an EU technical arrangement. They have to make sure that they are very specific, as we are, in identifying where the illegal occupied territories are and we do not want to deviate from this system. On amendment No. 17, as to a report on postal codes, we will be updating every time there is an update on new settlements. Essentially, it is a new report every time there is an update. As for having one in six months' time, there may or may not be new settlements. Either way, they will be updated on our website. They will be updated on the Commission website. They will be there for people to see. Senator Black touched on the postal codes and part 1 and part 2. I probably did not get into this in the same detail on Committee Stage in the Dáil.”
“It is consistent. The Israeli Government has been clear that it intends that there be more. This is not going to stop. That is why we want to make sure that our legislation aligns with the EU and the Commission. I believe that the EU and the Commission have been faithful in identifying those settlements. I would not suggest that they are not making sure that every new settlement is put in this list. I believe that they are because they are bound as well by the technical agreement. While we might not agree with it at present, it is essentially the case that, because Israel gets preferential trade treatment under the association agreement, in order to differentiate between the occupied territories and Israel, the technical agreement is there to make sure that no trade coming from the occupied territories gets that preferential treatment.”
“In terms of the existing process, the association agreement but namely, the EU-Israel Technical Arrangement, which is based on the list of postal codes referenced, the other European countries are also taking action by using this list of postal codes. We are very much aligned. We are engaging with those countries as they are progressing theirs, although ours is the only Government that is bringing it forward via primary legislation and ours is somewhat more comprehensive in that way. The list itself is comprehensive. It is regularly updated. I brought this with me to the committee, but there is a clear list published on the European Commission website. Once this Bill is enacted, it will be clear for people to see on our own website as well. The list is fluid in the context of the fact that there are persistent settlements.”
“The association agreement refers to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory because it means any Israeli settlement is illegal. Under the International Court of Justice, ICJ, ruling of 2024, any Israeli settlement is illegal so we do not need to differentiate between what is legal and what is illegal. Anything under the ICJ ruling that is in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. To create our own definition of an Israeli settlement would, in itself, pose its own challenges and risks. I am not sure it would add to the Bill. Goods from settlements in designated postcodes would remain prohibited and the mechanism for providing limited exemptions would remain the same as well.”
“That is what we want to align with because that is where we know we are using the same language, we are using the same postcodes, and we are not establishing something new where there can be any confusion or where we are then different to other member states or other countries. On the translation of theirs, when you speak to them they are clear that their language is so that they are complying with the association agreement, that they are complying with the postal codes used through the association agreement and then the technical agreement so that we are all applying it in the same way. I am confident that the language that we have allows for that and our intention and objective here, from all of us, is the exact same.”
“I thank all the Senators for being here and, indeed, for the points that they have raised. I also acknowledge the Palestinian ambassador, who is present. Maybe to start with that last point, I appreciate when you look at the different translations they all form a different form of words. In looking at our own legislation and our own wording, we have engaged with those countries. We have engaged with other member states. What we have set out here is very clear in our intention and what they have set out is very clear in their intention that they would comply with and that their language would adhere to the EU-Israel Association Agreement.”
“Many of us in the Chamber have visited the West Bank and Gaza many times. We have been in the region and have seen the devastation this war is causing. We have seen the ongoing devastation, despite the fact that there is a ceasefire. We only want one outcome, which is a peaceful solution between Israel and Palestine, that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side, and that the conflict that is quite literally tearing families apart, that sees children being killed and targeted and starving to death, just stops. That is what we are all trying to achieve. While some feel this legislation may not go far enough, I believe we are making progress and contributing towards that overall objective. For my part, I will continue to fight at a European level so that we can do more.”
“We need to make sure that we are standing up and that we are accountable. During our Presidency, that is what I will be advocating for. We were the first EU country to announce our intention to prohibit the importation of settlement goods. I again acknowledge Senator Frances Black and many others for their work on that. We also stated very clearly at the time that we hoped this would encourage other countries to follow our example. That is exactly what has happened and is happening. I look forward to working with colleagues in a constructive way. I look forward to ensuring that Ireland's concerns and our strong commitment to bringing about a peaceful solution are well heard and understood, not just in the context of our Presidency. I think we all agree on what we are trying to do here.”
“I welcome that a number of member states have enacted measures, and others are progressing similar legislative measures on goods originating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. This includes Spain, but the Netherlands and Belgium are also moving, and we know that Norway is working on legislation. Other non-member state countries have engaged directly with me and asked about our legislation and how we are moving this forward. That is what we have always been trying to do here: to gather that momentum and make sure that others are moving with us, that we are sending as strong a message as possible that what is happening is not acceptable, and that the EU takes a stronger position. I do not believe we have been strong enough. We all agree on that.”
“What was committed to at the last meeting was that it would bring forward a list of options for consideration at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting that will take place on Monday. I expect that we will get those proposals today, or at the latest tomorrow, so we can consider them for the upcoming Council. At this meeting, I will be strongly pressing for action. As I have said, I am not clear that there is a consensus or an overall majority when it comes to any vote on this, but I am clear that there is a certainly a shift or a change. That is why we have advocated for changes in trade, so that we could apply QMV and have a much stronger and better chance of making progress at a European level. That is the only thing, if anything, that will make the Israeli Government sit up and listen.”
“It is important to stress that at the first meeting I attended last November, a handful of countries - Ireland and possibly three or four others - were advocating for any type of meaningful change, any type of meaningful proposal from the Commission or any type of action full stop. In advocating and working with our colleagues from Spain and Slovenia, and more recently from France, Portugal, Sweden and beyond, we have seen that shift. At the last meeting I attended, at least 17 member states were very clear and adamant in wanting the Commission to bring forward stronger proposals. In that time, we have voted for sanctions on violent settlers and for sanctions on those responsible for the Hamas attacks. We are advocating for the Commission to bring forward proposals.”
“We all know that services are often digital, cross-border and intangible in nature, operating across multiple legal and regulatory frameworks, creating very significant implementation and enforcement challenges. What the Government must do and what I, as Minister, must do is ensure that any measures adopted are not only politically meaningful but also legally defensible, practically enforceable and mindful of Ireland's wider economic and employment interests. For these reasons, the Government has adopted a two-pronged approach. At national level, we are proceeding with measures on goods that can be effectively implemented and sustained in practice. However, I will continue to push for collective action at EU level because this is the strongest and most effective route. I have pushed for action for some time since coming into this role.”
“The Government sought and received advice from the Attorney General regarding the legal permissibility of an EU member state introducing restrictions relating to trade in services with a third country or territory. There are two principal issues in relation to services: the legal basis available under EU law, and the practical challenges relating to implementation and enforcement. In the case of goods, a public policy exemption exists within the relevant EU framework governing imports, allowing member states to adopt restrictions for public policy reasons. There is no equivalent broad public policy basis in EU law in relation to external trade in services. Trade in services differs fundamentally from trade in goods.”
“This includes our strong advocacy for action at the EU level, where I have co-ordinated with like-minded member states to advance all of the issues of mutual concern. I have also ensured that our missions abroad have communicated very clearly the purpose of this Bill and our wider policy in relation to the Middle East, and as many of my colleagues have, I have engaged with all relevant Departments and agencies in regard to its implementation. In respect of the report's recommendation regarding the inclusion of services - I appreciate that this is where there is obviously most focus and difference - we have studied this issue carefully.”
“To facilitate the implementation of this process, section 7 sets out the amendments to be made to section 45 of the Customs Act 2015 to allow for the importer to be notified of the decision of the Revenue Commissioners and to provide the importer with the right to appeal. Section 8 provides for information sharing and is designed to allow the relevant bodies to work together to effectively enforce the Bill. The remaining sections are all relatively standard provisions and deal with issues such as data protection and other issues. The pre-legislative scrutiny report was very helpful in the further development of the Bill. The report's recommendations were carefully considered and we have taken action in response to a number of the recommendations.”
“Some of these postal codes encompass an area that includes both a settlement area, and an area within Israel proper, and therefore even under the current system they already require some basic checks to determine the precise origin of the goods. Section 6 is aimed at addressing this issue. An importer from one of these postal codes can apply to the Revenue Commissioners for an exemption if their goods originate in the non-settlement part of the listed postal code. Before issuing such an exemption, the Revenue Commissioners will make inquiries to ascertain the precise origin of the goods. The process for checking more or less replicates the current system.”
“It is proposed that, under this legislation, goods originating in Israeli settlements would become goods subject to any prohibition or restriction on importation within the meaning of that phrase for the purposes of the 2015 Customs Act. Once the Bill is enacted and commenced, it will be an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act to import settlement goods and the provisions of that Act concerning search, seizure and forfeiture will be available in respect of settlement goods. Sections 6 and 7 deal with possible exemptions and appeals. As already stated, a list of postal codes that correspond to Israeli settlements are already set out under a technical arrangement concluded between the EU and the Government of Israel.”
“Practically speaking, the approach set out develops and updates Ireland's implementation of the existing obligations placed upon operators and customs authorities to distinguish between goods from the State of Israel and settlement goods under the EU-Israel technical arrangement in order to ensure compliance with international law. Section 5 prohibits the importation of goods originating in postal codes proscribed by order of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Any such importation will therefore become an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act 2015. In and of itself, the Bill does not create any new offences.”
“This is to ensure that importers are aware of which locations are not eligible for preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As the postal codes listed under the EU-Israel technical arrangement are periodically updated, section 4 will allow the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, following consultation with the Minister for Finance, to amend or replace the list of proscribed postal codes. If new settlements are constructed, they will therefore be captured by the updated list of postal codes at an EU level, and our own list of proscribed postal codes will be updated accordingly.”
“It will also contribute positively to our efforts to uphold and comply with international law, including the findings of the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. I will now outline the detailed provisions of the Bill, placing a particular focus on the key sections. Sections 1 and 2 are standard provisions setting out the relevant definitions and how the related regulations and orders will be dealt with. Section 3 empowers the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, following consultation with the Minister for Finance, to proscribe by order certain postal codes that correspond to Israeli settlements. It should be noted that these postal codes are already set out under a technical arrangement concluded between the EU and the Government of Israel.”
“The conflict in Iran is connected with what is happening in Libya and with Gaza and the West Bank, Syria and beyond. The very clear message to me from our colleagues in the Gulf is that if we do not resolve the situation between Israelis and Palestinians and achieve the overall objective of a two-state solution, the wider conflict will continue for decades to come. That message makes me, and, I know, everybody in this House, even more determined that we would make progress. The cycle of violence that has brought suffering to Palestinians and Israelis needs to be brought to an end. This Bill will contribute positively to Ireland's efforts and to international efforts to prevent unilateral actions that impinge on the rights of Palestinian people to self-determination and upon the viability of the two-state solution.”
“We are committed - as I think is everyone in this House - to working with those who want to achieve a just and lasting peace. We are committed to working with those who want to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side and enjoying the same rights. Crucially, we are committed to working with those who believe that both peoples have the right to live in peace, security and dignity in two states - Israel and Palestine - based on the 1967 border. After the three-day visit and the engagements I have just had and having come home to find the conflict in Iran igniting again, what is very clear is that none of this is predetermined. None of it is linear. Any progress that we make can be set back immediately. What is more complicated and more complex is that every conflict is interconnected.”
“Other ongoing challenges include electricity and fuel shortages, water insecurity and much more. That is why the Government and I have consistently provided for and called for unhindered humanitarian access to people in Gaza. We will continue to do so. The actions of the Israeli Government consistently contravene international law. They are part of an established pattern to create a new status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory. In particular, they are designed explicitly to bury the idea of a two-state solution. This is happening by design as opposed to by accident. I think we all agree on that. Ireland will always defend the right of the Palestinian people to a state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Palestinians have the right to self-determination; the same right already enjoyed by Israelis.”
“I saw this in January when I travelled to the border with Israel. It was made very clear to me that the rules that applied on Monday could be changed on Tuesday and changed again on Wednesday. Quite literally, food sat rotting, and very important material such as tents, equipment and children's play toys were not let in because of the types of material they were made of. This is not acceptable. Separate from legislation, in anything we do we must continue to advocate strongly internationally in order that enough humanitarian aid can get in and that rebuilding can start. Mass displacement and poor shelter are exposing civilians to rising public health risks, which makes the need all the more urgent. The food security situation remains precarious.”
“Entire communities have seen homes, roads and essential infrastructure destroyed. What has replaced them is not what people might often imagine, namely tents or temporary structures. These are Israeli state-built homes; they are concrete homes, not tents. They are permanent fixtures. This year alone, there have already been more than 1,000 reported settler attacks. That is an average of six attacks every day. It is hard for any of us to imagine living in a community where every day brings the possibility of violence, intimidation or the destruction of our home or livelihood. For far too may Palestinians, that is simply everyday life and has been for some time. In Gaza, humanitarian conditions remain dire, with the operating environment for humanitarian aid massively constrained by Israeli-imposed import restrictions.”
“From speaking to those in the Gulf who are impacted by these conflicts but who are very much working towards a peaceful solution, not just in Iran but in Lebanon and the West Bank, it is very clear they are very focused, as we are, on the advancement of a two-state solution and that was to the fore of our discussions. Before discussing the detail of this legislation it is important - as we all will do - to reflect on why we are here. This Bill is about real people whose lives have been shaped by conflict, displacement and occupation. As Senators will know, in the West Bank in particular, the situation continues to deteriorate. Since the beginning of last year, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes during Israeli military operations.”
“I wish Senators a good evening. I am pleased to introduce the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 to the Seanad. I acknowledge in particular the role played by Senator Black and others in advancing the issues that are at the very core of this legislation. The Bill has generated debate not just within the Oireachtas but across Irish society and internationally. The depth of feeling in this House and also in the Dáil is shared and understood by me and by the Government. I have just returned from a visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE where this issue and the wider conflicts in the Middle East were very much on the agenda and to the fore of our discussions and my reason for being there.”
“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.”
“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 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.”
“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 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.”
“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.”