LAST UPDATE | 30 Jul 2025

IRELAND IS AMONG 15 nations that have called for the world to recognise a Palestinian state and reiterated commitment for a two-state solution. 

The joint statement of Foreign Ministers was agreed at the High-level International Conference which took place in New York this week. 

The joint statement expresses the ministers’ call for a ceasefire, concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza, and calls on countries across the world to recognise the state of Palestine. 

France’s minister for foreign affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot, posted the letter to his X account alongside the message: “In New York, along with 14 other countries, France is launching a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognise the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done do to join us.”

A New York avec 14 autres pays, la France lance un appel collectif : nous exprimons notre volonté de reconnaître l'Etat de Palestine et invitons ceux qui ne l’ont pas encore fait à nous rejoindre. pic.twitter.com/faCYTYwmES

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) July 30, 2025

The statement is backed by Ireland, Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain.

All 15 countries have “already recognised, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognise the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-State solution”. 

A New York avec 14 autres pays, la France lance un appel collectif : nous exprimons notre volonté de reconnaître l'Etat de Palestine et invitons ceux qui ne l’ont pas encore fait à nous rejoindre. pic.twitter.com/faCYTYwmES

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) July 30, 2025

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said the effort “demonstrated there is another way forward”.

He added: “The international community demands an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal and urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza, and is 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.”

Ireland was represented at the Conference by Emer Higgins TD, who described it as a “decisive moment”.

“Together we demonstrate support for the two State solution as the only viable path to securing lasting peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region,” said Higgins.

“We continue to witness appalling suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, where hunger and death take an increasingly heavy toll.

“Hamas must release the hostages and Israel must allow life-saving aid into Gaza at scale immediately and stop the blockades, bombardment and brutality.

“We need to chart a political pathway to peace and commit to taking concrete steps to achieve this.”

Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK would officially recognise the state of Palestine  at the UN General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government reaches a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel said it “rejects” the UK move, arguing it “constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza”.

In a statement, Netanyahu said: “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.

“Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.”