Ireland’s foreign minister, Micheál Martin, called out Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, stating it targets Palestinian people, not just Hamas. He urged the EU to reevaluate its relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in light of civilian casualties and breaches of international humanitarian law.
Martin highlighted the recent International Court of Justice ruling that deemed Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank unlawful as a basis for action. The EU, a major trading partner with Israel, is under pressure from countries like Ireland and Spain to reassess the association agreement due to potential violations.
Moreover, concerns were raised about reports of Israel possibly transporting weapons through Irish airspace without permission, prompting investigations by Ireland’s transport department. Martin emphasized the importance of compliance with regulations, noting that exemptions were not sought for such flights.