Micheál Martin warns Israel its siege of Gaza 'will radicalise a new generation'

Tánaiste and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin in a damaged building at Kibbutz Beeri, where Emily Hand was last seen before the Hamas attack on October 7. Picture: Alexander Ermochenko/TPX/Reuters 

Micheál Martin has warned Israel's foreign minister that the bombardment of Gaza will radicalise a new generation.

After a day which saw him traverse Israel and the West Bank, taking in the Kibbutz where Irish girl Emily Hand was last seen as well as Jerusalem and Ramallah, Mr Martin suggested there is no appetite from Israel for a ceasefire.

A further three Irish citizens were evacuated on Thursday from the Palestinian enclave through the border crossing at Rafah and it is hoped the majority of those remaining will be able to get out over the next two days.

After meeting with Israel's foreign minister Eli Cohen and president Isaac Herzog, the Tánaiste was asked by reporters whether, from his discussions, he sees any prospect of an imminent breakthrough to bring the current cycle of violence to an end.  He said: "Not just yet.

"War and violence radicalises people and our concern, which I have said to president Herzog and foreign minister Cohen... 

I did speak about Northern Ireland and the experiences there.... that dealing with issues through a military lens alone will radicalise people and create future extreme perspectives. 

"That is the real danger that will come out of this war in Gaza. 

"What you are doing is creating fertile ground for more extreme views to grow."

He said he told Eli Cohen that Ireland knows from its own experience, that different approaches can be more effective when dealing with organisations such as Hamas.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen meeting local people in Sderot town which had suffered a rocket attack. Of Israel's attacks on Gaza, Mr Martin told Mr Cohen: 'What you are doing is creating fertile ground for more extreme views to grow.' Picture: Miri Shimonovich/DFA

"All wars end. There are a lot of discussions going on and a lot of moving parts to this. That is important. The hostage situation is in there and the war and the whole issue of what happens after the conflict. We have to keep the pressure on for the humanitarian dimension to this. The loss of life is far too great. It simply has to stop." 

His comments came as Israel ordered civilians to leave four towns in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, raising fears that war could spread to areas where it had told people they would be safe.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement that Israeli forces had cleared the entire western part of Gaza City and that the "next stage has begun". 

Earlier the Tánaiste’s convoy was forced to make an emergency stop while travelling to Jerusalem amid an air raid warning.

Mr Martin had visited the Kibbutz close to the Gaza border where Emily Hand was last seen and was making his way north-east when an air raid siren went off.

The convoy was forced to stop for five minutes on the side of the road.

The Tánaiste’s car has a hard protective shell so he didn’t have to get out. However, his officials who were travelling directly behind had to get out of their bus and hunker at the side of the road in protective gear.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, left, welcoming Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin during his official visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday. PictureL Zain Jaafar//AP

At the Be’eri Kibbutz, he had been met by a number of survivors who were there during the October 7 attacks. They told him of the devastation, fear and trauma of the experience.

He was also shown into the wreckage of family homes that were charred and destroyed when Hamas fighters entered the settlement and killed 100 people and from where eight-year-old Emily is believed to have been abducted.

Mr Martin said he had spoken to officials about Emily Hand and about getting the remaining Irish citizens out.

"Today only three came through, that was a processing delay," he said. "Nothing to do with our cohort, just a general processing problem which emerged in the middle of the day. We are hopeful that more will come out tomorrow [Friday]. The next two days are crucial in getting the majority out. 

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin and Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh examining a map of the Gaza Strip during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday. Picture: Zain Jaafar/AP

"There was a general willingness and genuine commitment to do everything they can to get civilians out and also to work in relation to Emily Hand."

Mr Martin also denied that a meeting he had with the Mayor of Sderot, Alon Davidi, was "heated".

Mr Davidi detailed life amid air-raid sirens, bomb shelters and fear and said to the Tánaiste, who has buried two of his own children: 

I don't know if you understand what the meaning of post-trauma is? Do your children suffer from that?

Mr Martin said Ireland is "unequivocal" in its condemnation of Hamas and its terrorist atrocities but he added that there is now a real danger that the current actions of Israel will radicalize future generations even more.

The Israeli mayor replied: "I will say to my prime minister to stop the war, if Ireland can promise me that after five days, all the weapons that Hamas has in Gaza and all the army of Hamas goes outside to Egypt or someplace, maybe to Ireland maybe to Europe. But we know you cannot do that."