Taoiseach Simon Harris has spoken by telephone on Monday to Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez about the recognition of Palestine.
Ireland and Spain are leading an effort to get several EU countries to recognise the State of Palestine in the coming weeks, as part of a drive to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In a statement issued by Government Buildings, Mr Harris said he and Mr Sánchez had “reaffirmed the wish for both Spain and Ireland to recognise Palestine, agreeing that formal recognition is an important part of acknowledging that a two-state solution is the only way to bring about peace and stability in the region, with a State of Palestine and the State of Israel living side-by-side in peace and security”.
“Prime Minister Sánchez and I are both eager to make progress on this very shortly and we agreed to remain in close contact,” he added. “We are co-ordinating efforts with other European states to recognise a Palestinian state alongside like-minded countries. This will be done in a way that can have the most positive impact on the situation on the ground.”
Black Axe gang behind bank account takeover fraud swells to network of 1,600 people in Ireland
In The Settlers, Louis Theroux does something we have rarely seen him do in 30 years of TV
Adam Loughnane asked for help at a Galway hospital. Three hours later he was dead
‘You get obsessed’: Lunch at Chapter One with arguably one of the world’s best food writers
Mr Harris also said the two men “took stock of the work under way in New York on a resolution on Palestine’s membership of the UN”.
“Ireland fully supports Palestinian membership of the UN. The UN General Assembly will consider this issue on May 10th and we expect a large majority of UN member to take a similar position,” he said.
The conversation took place as Israel ordered civilians in parts of Rafah to evacuate to a “humanitarian zone” 20km away in what may be a preparation for an anticipated military assault on the city, the last holdout of Hamas but also where more than a million refugees from the invasion of Gaza have been sheltering.
“Prime Minister Sánchez and I shared our deep concern about reports that Israel has ordered an evacuation of civilians from parts of Rafah in preparation of a military operation,” Mr Harris said.
“I reiterate my call on Israel not to undertake a full-scale military operation in Rafah. The international community has made it very clear that an Israeli military operation in Rafah will inevitably lead to disastrous humanitarian consequences and the deaths of large numbers of innocent civilians. The protection of civilians is an obligation under international humanitarian law.”
The Taoiseach reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages and for “a surge in humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza”.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
