Taoiseach Brian Cowen today condemned Israel’s incursion into Gaza and demanded a ceasefire in the region.
Mr Cowen called for the Israeli government to declare an immediate ceasefire and withdraw its forces. He called for Hamas to end its rocket assaults on Israel and for "real political progress" on the Palestinian side.
He said it was "hugely disappointing" that the UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on calling for a ceasefire.
"We need to see the Security Council of the UN confirm a ceasefire must take place so that a space for dialogue can be created," he told RTÉ radio.
Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he "greatly regrets" the escalation of the situation.
"[I] would urge Israel to halt this operation and withdraw its forces from Gaza," he said last night. "It is necessary to reiterate once again that there can be no military solution to the current crisis in Gaza.
"Israel must halt all military action in Gaza and Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups must desist from all rocket attacks launched against southern Israel."
Mr Martin said an immediate ceasefire was now more compellingly urgent than ever in light of the latest developments. "Ireland will continue to work actively with its EU and international partners to try and achieve a diplomatic resolution to this crisis," he said.
Mr Martin said the Israeli air strikes had a devastating effect on the civilian population which will now be seriously aggravated by the ground offensive.
The Department of Foreign Affairs last night announced emergency humanitarian funding of €500,000 to help the people of Gaza. The funding will be channelled through a Humanitarian Response Fund supporting humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza.
Large numbers of people protested yesterday over the Israeli attacks in rallies across the country.
Demonstrators burnt an Israeli flag outside Leinster House in Dublin, while afterwards dozens of protesters knelt in Kildare Street to pray. One man attempted to set himself alight at a protest at the Central Bank in Dublin. The man set his arms and shoulders alight before onlookers managed to extinguish the flames. He was not seriously injured.
Other demonstrations took place in Galway, Cork, Limerick, Derry and Sligo.
Fine Gael's foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said he was "disappointed" that the Quartet of the UN, EU, US and Russia has failed to find a solution to the conflict. He also called on Israel to halt its invasion.
"Both Hamas and the Israeli government must facilitate the impending visit by French President Sarkozy and give him time to negotiate an internationally brokered truce," said Mr Timmins.
The Labour Party's foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
"While the ceasefire must protect civilians from rockets, as international spokespersons demand, it must also address the issue of the clearly illegal, and disproportionate by any principle of international law, actions by the Israeli government," he said. "The international community cannot simply wring its hands at the slaughter of Palestinians as a form of collective punishment."
Last night, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams condemned the Israeli ground and called on the international community to focus diplomatic efforts on persuading Israel to cease hostilities in Gaza.
"The combined efforts of the international community, including that of the Irish Government and the EU, must now be bent towards resolving the situation in Gaza," he said. "All diplomatic efforts must be focused on persuading the Israeli government to cease its operations in Gaza and end hostilities."