Israel risks losing international sympathy if it launches a ground invasion in Gaza in a bid to crack down on Hamas militants, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said today.

NOTHING in the recent history of the Arab-Israeli struggle had done more damage to Israel’s standing of Israel than the Goldstone report.

THE column by Steven King (March 3) was a master class in the art of airbrushing Israel’s role in the Middle East conflict. His one-eyed analysis omitted several important points.

The Government today pledged to donate €2m in humanitarian aid to Gaza and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said the cash injection will fund assistance, recovery and reconstruction in the conflict-hit region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin leaves today for a week-long visit to the Middle East and Gulf region.

CHILDREN are bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza as the Israeli offensive to flush out Hamas fighters leaves youngsters battling indelible trauma while threatening the lives of newborns and their mothers, a senior aid official says.

There are rights and wrongs on both sides in the current Gaza conflict. Israel was undoubtedly provoked, but its response has undoubtedly strengthened the hand of Hamas within the Arab world.

The Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors to Ireland are due to appear before the Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs today to answer questions about the Gaza conflict.

Frustrated and anguished at the escalating violence in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he’s embarking today on a Mideast tour to press for Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian territory.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Dublin tonight to protest over the deepening violence in the Gaza conflict.