Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that Ireland stands ready to contribute to achieving a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, reports RTE.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly during a summit focused on the two-state solution last night, Mr Martin warned that the opportunity to realise such a resolution may vanish without urgent international intervention.
“If we do not move now to protect the two-state solution, if we do not work to build a process through which it can be achieved, there may never be another opportunity,” r r
Mr Martin expressed support for the countries that recently recognised Palestinian statehood and called on more nations to do the same.
“We know that there are people, including in the Israeli government, who are working to make that outcome impossible,” the Taoiseach added, reports RTE.
In his speech, Mr Martin outlined the consequences of Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories: “More than 65,000 people killed in Gaza. Horrifically more than 20,000 of them children.
“The use of food as a weapon of war, scarcity becoming hunger, becoming famine. Hospitals attacked, homes and schools destroyed. Thousands of years of culture wiped out. People shot as they desperately seek food for their families. Aid workers, journalists targeted and killed,” reports RTE.
The Taoiseach also praised those on the ground in Gaza and said the situation must compel global leaders to take action.
“We have reached a point where what has been credibly described as a genocide is being carried out in front of the eyes of the world. It would be easy to just despair, but we must not. Gaza must move us to action,” reports RTE.
Mr Martin paid tribute to the humanitarian workers, medics and journalists who he said are determined to do their best for Gaza with “extraordinary courage and without regard to their own safety”.
“To honour them and the Palestinian people, it is right that we as political leaders play our part too. The only credible destination is a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security,” reports RTE.
Riham Jafari, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator for ActionAid Palestine, welcomed the recognition of Palestine but stressed that symbolic gestures alone are not enough to relieve the suffering.
Yesterday, France recognised a Palestinian state, joining other Western nations like Britain and Canada who have recently taken the same step and were criticised by Israel.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Ms Jafari said that the decision to recognise a Palestinian state should be followed by “concrete action” to end the suffering of people in Palestine.
“Before the recognition of those states, there are more than 145 countries recognising Palestinian state, but the violations of human rights and international law and war crimes and genocide are continued in Gaza and West Bank,” she said, reports RTE.
“So now the world needs to take more action. Recognition of a Palestinian state, it is not a favour or a bargaining chip. It is a moral and illegal obligation by the states, according to international law,” reports RTE.
When asked if a two-state solution was viable, Ms Jafari said that it was “if the world practices pressures on Israel to end settlement, end illegal settlement and to end illegal occupation in the West Bank.
“But if settlement is continued, if annexation is continued and enforced on the West Bank, I think the two-state solution will be impossible,” reports RTE.
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