Opposition parties and NGOs have called on the Government to speak out over the current crisis in the Middle East.
Fine Gael said the Government should strongly condemn "Israel's state-sponsored terror campaign".
The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Bernard Allen, said although the actions of both sides are "fuelling" the crisis, as a state power Israel has a responsibility "to act proportionately and in accordance with international law and respect for civilians".
Mr Allen said: "The use of such disproportionate force by Israel against civilians is unacceptable, and the Government should make their position on this matter very clear as well as calling for an immediate halt to all such military activities."
Yesterday the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, called on "all parties to act urgently on the repeated calls to exercise restraint".
In a statement he said: "Israel has a legitimate right, and a duty, to defend its citizens, but not at the expense of the lives and the welfare of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians." Mr Ahern described Israeli actions as "harshly disproportionate".
The NGO Christian Aid said it is "extremely concerned" about the safety of Israeli, Lebanese and Palestinian people living amidst the current crisis in the Middle East.
Oxfam also warned that escalating violence in Gaza could intensify the humanitarian crisis for over 1.3 million Palestinians.
"Action must be taken by both Israel and the Palestinians to stop this deteriorating situation that is hitting civilians the hardest, and work to bring a peaceful end to the crisis," the aid group said.