Taoiseach defends Gaza response as Seanad recalled to debate crisis

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that acts of self-defence in the Middle East need to be "proportionate" and the death of 1,000 people in Gaza is "not satisfactory."

His comments came as party leaders in the Seanad agreed that the Upper House would be recalled this week in order to debate the Gaza crisis and fighting in the Ukraine.

Mr Kenny defended Ireland’s decisions in the weeks since the Gaza crisis escalated.

He said it was debated in the Dáil, dealt with through parliamentary questions and that Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan had met the Israeli ambassador Boaz Modai a number of times.

He said the world had looked at the situation in Gaza since the 1950s and decided that the best way forward for Israelis and Palestinians was a two-state solution.

He added: “The situation now is there are differences of opinion between the US secretary of state and the prime minister of Israel.

“Clearly, there have been ceasefires brokered by Egypt and others. These have been put in place for a few hours and have been broken, and the situation is very fragile. Clearly, from a humanitarian point of view, water and food and medicines and the needless loss of life speaks for itself.

“Every country is entitled to defend itself, Israel no less than any other, but the UN have obviously pointed out on many occasions, that a response in self-defence needs to be proportionate, and clearly the situation where 1,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza is not satisfactory and has been the subject of direct phone calls between the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel,” the Taoiseach said.

Meanwhile, Seanad Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke has agreed to recall the Upper House this Thursday for an emergency debate on the Gaza crisis.

Following opposition demands, members were told yesterday that statements would be accepted on the Middle East conflict as well as recent fighting and events in Ukraine.

President Michael D Higgins yesterday spoke of his horror at unfolding events in Gaza.

“The appalling and escalating loss of life in Gaza is a tragic example of the failure of diplomacy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council rejected a motion yesterday calling on the Government to expel the Israeli ambassador.

However, the council did vote to call on the minister for foreign affairs to summon the ambassador to a meeting to tell him the Irish people were abhorred by the killing of women and children in Gaza.

Sinn Féin leader on the council Des O’Grady had urged the expulsion of the ambassador as the only way to get Israel to sit up and listen.

Cllr Mary Rose Desmond (FF) suggested the approach from the minister for foreign affairs and got her motion passed on a vote of 28 to 11.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton rejected suggestions that the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador should be considered.

He said: “We in Ireland have good reason to believe that cutting off conversations with sides does not lead to sustainable peace processes. The position that we are taking is the right one.”