Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that Ireland signed a joint statement alongside 14 other foreign ministers to call for an immediate Gaza ceasefire and the implementation of a two-state solution.
The meeting took place at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York this week.
Other signatories included: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain.
The conference was attended by over 130 UN Member States.
The meeting highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a ceasefire, release of hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said the conference demonstrated that there is another way forward, adding that the “international community demands an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal” as well as urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza.
He added that they were ready to take “concrete steps” to implement the two-state solution.
“Ireland is doubling down on our commitment to achieve a just, lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security. We will continue to do all in our power to work for that peace.”
Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, represented Ireland at the conference.
The meeting took place at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York
Recognition of Palestinian state
The 15 Western nations also called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, according to France’s top diplomat.
President Emmanuel Macron announced last week he would formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, provoking strong opposition from Israel and the United States.
France is hoping to build momentum around the formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various “substantive steps”, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Mr Starmer’s move, paired with Paris, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so.
In the joint statement, the nations affirmed their “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution”.
Nine of the signatories which have not yet recognised the Palestinian state expressed “the willingness or the positive consideration of their countries” to do so, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Seventeen countries, plus the European Union and Arab League, during the conference joined calls for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.