Taoiseach Simon Harris has expressed the “unbreakable support” of the people of Ireland to the people of Palestine during a call with Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.
The phone call between Mr Harris and the West Bank-based President of the Palestinian Authority comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and Ireland’s recognition of the Palestinian State earlier this year.
Mr Harris said he used the call “to express the solidarity and unbreakable support of the people of Ireland to the people of Palestine.”
He added: “I told Mahmoud Abbas that the heartbreaking conditions and loss of innocent life in Gaza this year weighs heavily on the minds of many Irish people as they gather with their families for Christmas this week.
“I also pledged that Ireland will continue to use its voice and its influence at every opportunity in every international forum it can from the EU to the UN – as well as through direct bilateral relations with Israel and Palestine – to bring about a ceasefire and to start to rebuild shattered lives.”
Mr Harris also said: “While speaking to President Abbas it was foremost in my mind that the heart-shattering milestone of more than 45,000 dead was passed earlier this month, of which nearly 15,000 were innocent children.”
He relayed how Mr Abbas had told him an average of 50 people have died and 100 have been injured in Gaza for every day in 2024.
Mr Harris added: “On top of this we have seen so called safe zones bombed in the last few days and the conditions in Gaza as described by the UN are horrific.”
He said that 1.1 million children are “living in hellish conditions” and families lack basic items like food, clothing, shoes, mattresses, blankets, and kitchen supplies.
Mr Harris said there is “a dangerous shortage of medicines, with diseases spreading rapidly due to the cold” and “tens of thousands of people are living at sites with no basic services at all.
“That’s no bathroom, no water and no food.”
The Taoiseach also said: “It is also deeply troubling that the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue to see buildings being cleared and demolished.”
He raised concern that the risk of famine in Gaza has not subsided and “the only conclusion that can fairly be drawn at the end of the 2024 is that the world has failed the innocent people of Gaza.”
Mr Harris and Mr Abbas spoke of the importance of ongoing international support United Nations relief agency Unrwa to keep Gaza’s fragile education and health system standing.
They also discussed the first group of eight seriously injured Palestinian children being medically evacuated to Ireland this week for treatment.
A Government statement said: “the leaders looked forward to 2025 and the need for a ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed to be the top priority of all major powers and parties to the conflict.
“The Taoiseach pledged Ireland would use every opportunity to achieve this.”
Like Ireland, Spain and Norway also recognised Palestine earlier this year.
Mr Abbas is said to have thanked Ireland for this recognition again during the call.
He also said that the Palestinian Ambassador, Dr Jilan Abdalmajid, officially presenting her credentials to Ireland this week was a great honour.
Mr Harris said: “There were some who criticised our decision to recognise Palestine but I am resolute in the words I said on that day in May, ‘there is never a wrong time to do the right thing’.”
Mr Harris said: “Many leaders whose countries have yet to recognise the state of Palestine have expressed their respect towards Ireland, Spain and Norway’s decision.”
He also said: “Our recognition of Palestine took nothing away from Israel and I have spoken or met in person with President Herzog of Israel on several occasions this year.”
Israel closed its embassy in Dublin earlier this month claiming “extreme” anti-Israel policies by the Irish Government.
At the time Mr Harris described the decision as “regrettable” and denied that the Irish Government has anti-Israeli policies, describing its stance as “pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law”.
A Government statement after the call said that Ireland has once again called for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the free flow of urgently needed humanitarian aid and the release of all Israeli hostages to their families.
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