LAST UPDATE | 17 Oct 2023
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has told the Dáil that some of the statements made by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the Israel-Hamas war “lacked balance, in his view”.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Varadkar said he has expressed his opinion to her.
“I said that to her, and I have no difficulty saying that. I do think statements that she’s made more recently were more balanced, specifically talking about the tripling of the humanitarian aid for Gaza, and also the attempts that we’re making at the moment to organise a UN humanitarian air bridge from Gaza through Egypt,” he said.
His comments come as a number of opposition members have criticised the Commission president for visiting Israel in the wake of the attacks by Hamas on civilians and offering Israel Europe’s unwavering support.
Following Leaders’ Questions today, the Taoiseach attended an “extraordinary” meeting of European Council leaders on the Israel and Palestine conflict.
The European Council meeting has been convened by the President of the European Council Charles Michel, to consider the consequences of the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, in the hope of securing a “united response from the EU”.
At the meeting, Varadkar emphasised how EU Member States must continue to work together with partners to engage with Israel and with other actors in the region to ensure that the situation does not escalate to a wider conflict.
Ireland is particularly conscious of the situation of members of our Defence Forces in Lebanon and Syria, he said.
Varadkar said the EU must do all it can with the UN and other partners to urgently to deal with the dire situation in Gaza.
He told the meeting that Israel must immediately reverse its decision to cut off water, food, medical and fuel supplies to Gaza.
There must be a humanitarian pause in hostilities to provide space in which the immediate humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza can be met, said Varadkar.
He also told his European counterparts that humanitarian corridors must immediately be created to allow access to vital supplies and to allow EU citizens who wish to leave Gaza to do so safely.
The Taoiseach also sought assurances from the European Commission that its review of development assistance to Palestine does not include UN agencies, especially UNRWA, and that no payments to them are delayed.
He said that in supporting Ukraine, we have rightly argued that there are basic universal principles that must apply in all circumstances, and that International Humanitarian Law must be upheld.
The EU must continue to advocate for de-escalation, protection of civilians and avoidance of a humanitarian disaster, said the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach also emphasised that there must be a distinction between Hamas and innocent Palestinian people.
Whatever lies ahead, the EU must insist that International Humanitarian Law is observed and that civilians are protected, he added.
At today’s meeting, European leaders reiterated their strong condemnation of Hamas, the attack in Belgium last night and the school stabbing in France last week. The leaders said it is a “reminder that events in other parts of the world have consequences at home here in Europe”.
The Taoiseach expressed solidarity with Belgium, Sweden, France, and other colleagues who lost citizens in the Hamas attack and in subsequent events, and also with those whose citizens have been taken hostage.
Leaders agreed that the hostages are very much on the minds and hope for their early and safe return. The Taoiseach joined others in calling on Hamas to immediately release all hostages without any preconditions.
The Council agreed that Israel has a right to defend itself and its people and that this right must be exercised in line with international humanitarian law.
Speaking this evening, Varadkar said it was “a good meeting”.
“I think there is a greater degree of unity among the European Union when it comes to our position on the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Middle East,” Varadkar said.
“There is strong condemnation for Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, its use of Palestinian civilians as human shields and the taking of hostages as well,” he said.
“A lot of solidarity for France, for Belgium and for Sweden who’ve experienced terrorist attacks in the last couple of days, and a real fear that we’ll see more of that happening in Europe.
“Support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but a very clear view that that has limitations and Israel must act within the confines of international humanitarian law in the actions it takes,” he said.
“And a real effort that I think you’re going to see from European countries working together over the next couple of days to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, to try get EU passport holders out to safety to avoid an escalation of conflict, and to try use the influence we have to ensure that we don’t see this escalate and spread to other parts of the region,” the Taoiseach said.
He added that there is a commitment to treble EU aid to Gaza.
Earlier in the Dáil there were smatterings of “hear hear” when Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Taoiseach that von der Leyen “does not speak for Ireland”.
“Her failure to assert the primacy of international law was reckless, inflammatory and dangerous,” McDonald said.
The Taoiseach said Israel had a right to defend itself, but that does not mean that international law and the law of war can be breached.
While McDonald said she appreciated absolutely the need to condemn the horror that was visited on Israel, she cannot understand or accept the Taoiseach’s failure to condemn the Israeli onslaught on the refugee population in Gaza.
Similar criticisms were levelled at the Taoiseach by the Social Democrat’s leader Holly Cairns, who said the language she was hearing from the Taoiseach today in the Dáil was “weak”.
“A genocide is occurring on our watch and the international community is standing by letting it happen. You just saying that you kind of hope to build on a position at the council meeting isn’t going to go far enough.
“And I just want you to please not underestimate the importance of your voice at today’s European Council meeting. Ireland is one of very few States willing to call out Israel’s war crimes for what they are. We have a responsibility to the people of Palestine to do all that we possibly can in the coming hours and days to push for a ceasefire,” said the Social Democrat’s leader.
To date, Varadkar has stood out as one of the few European leaders that has called on Israel to act within the parameters of Humanitarian Law.
He has criticized the Israeli Government for cutting off water and electricity to Gaza, and has labelled the action as “collective punishment” and “not acceptable”.
Gaza is currently being carpet bombed by the Israeli military ahead of an expected ground invasion. It is effectively under siege, with limited food and drink supplies.
Gaza is a densely populated strip of land that has been controlled by the Islamist extremist group Hamas since 2007, and is home to many Palestinian civilians, more than one million of whom have fled their homes in the North, and moved to the South ahead of the expected offensive by ground troops.
It’s estimated that at least 2,750 people, mainly civilians, have been killed by the Israeli air assault which was unleashed after the Hamas attack on civilians in south Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.
This evening, the Gazan Health Ministry said at least 500 people have been killed in a hospital explosion it claims was caused by an Israeli air strike.
However, the Israel Defense Forces said this evening that they believe the Islamic Jihad militant group is responsible for the hospital attack.
Meanwhile in Dublin Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Tánaiste Micheál Martin made extensive comments regarding the situation in Gaza and Israel.
The Tánaiste, speaking to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence said that the decision by the Israeli military to tell the entire civilian population in the north of the Gaza Strip to move southward for their own safety “was unrealistic, unworkable and deeply dangerous”.
In his opening remarks this afternoon, he said the rules of war exist “to help preserve humanity in its darkest moments, and they desperately need to be followed today”.
“They are, and should remain, our compass to ensure that we put humanity first. The rules are clear and they apply to all sides, in all conflicts, everywhere; to state and non-state armed groups alike.”
Martin said we are now seeing the “terrible humanitarian consequences” of Israel’s decision to tell civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate.
He said there is an “urgent need” for humanitarian corridors to be established to deliver assistance to Palestinian civilians and said the Government is in ongoing contact with the United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross and regional partners on this issue.
He also said that voices of moderation “have been drowned out for far, far too long”.
“That does not mean that Israel should abandon its right to self-defence. No one, of any political background, can be in any doubt now as to who Hamas are, what they are capable of, and what their objectives are. Nothing justifies what we witnessed on 7 October,” he continued.
None of that means though that we should abandon rationality and reason in our response. And as outside observers, who care deeply about this situation, the only responsible way forward is to support a future in which people do not utilise political violence to achieve their aims.
“This is the foundation upon which peace is built. We can argue over the best ways in which we can achieve this, but we should be clear that this is our aim.”
With reporting by Christina Finn and Niall O’Connor and Jane Moore.
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