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LAST UPDATE | 26 Sep
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has condemned inaction on genocide in Gaza in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, where he also raised human rights issues impacting Sudan and Ukraine.
Highlighting United Nations investigators which found that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, he said that UN member states who signed the Convention on genocide are “obliged to act to prevent and to punish.”
“There cannot be business as usual in the face of genocide.. to do nothing is not neutrality, it is complicity,” he said.
As Irish officials, seated next to the Israeli delegation, looked on, Martin called on all members of the United Nations to reflect on what more they can do to prevent the genocide in Gaza.
“We will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza from entering our country,” Martin announced.
He said: “I especially call on those who have influence to use it urgently to maximum effect. I call on those who have provided – and who continue to provide – Israel with the means necessary to prosecute its war to reflect carefully on the implications of their actions and the consequences for the Palestinian people.”
“Ireland has intervened in the South African case at the ICJ, we have recognised the state of Palestine. We are legislating against the import of goods from the occupied territory,” he said.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry earlier this month found that “genocide is occurring in Gaza” and that “the responsibility lies with the State of Israel.”
Martin said that the report “called it out for what it is”
“Genocide. The gravest of crimes in international law. All signatories of the Convention on Genocide are obliged to act to prevent and to punish it,” he said.
We cannot say we were not aware.
Applause for Taoiseach when he said he would work with like-minded nations to end the catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/0lAQvJJbac
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) September 26, 2025
“We will act to prevent those members of the government of Israel who are instrumental in implementing the unfolding disaster in Gaza from entering our country. We will continue to work with like minded partners across the world to bring this human catastrophe to an end,” the Taoiseach added.
Members of the General Assembly, led by the Palestinian delegation, applauded the Taoiseach’s remarks.
Martin also called for the full release of Israeli hostages and condemned Hamas’ actions on 7 October 2023.
He said: “Hamas can have no role in the future governance in Palestine. But no crime, however heinous, can justify genocide.”
As well as Gaza, Martin highlighted abuses of the Palestinian population occurring in the West Bank, including land appropriation and withholding of tax revenues.
He said: “It is not possible to describe the scale of the physical and psychological suffering endured by the Palestinian people for two long and brutal years”.
During his speech, Martin also condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to Ukraine and their EU membership.
“President Putin has thumbed his nose at every attempt to bring about a ceasefire and negotiations, including those led by President Trump,” he said.
He highlighted the “grave humanitarian catastrophe” occurring in Sudan and called for the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to be extended to all of Sudan.
“More than 150,000 people are already dead. 12 million people displaced… The perpetrators of war crimes in Sudan must be held to account,” he said.
The Taoiseach took to the podium at around 4pm Irish time, not long after many General Assembly members walked out of the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech.
Martin was not among them as he was not present due to apparently working on his own speech.
Reacting to Netanyahu’s speech afterwards, Martin said in some respects, the prime minister’s speech was not surprising.
The Taoiseach went on to state that he doesn’t know how Netanyahu sleeps at night given what is taking place in Gaza.
“I don’t understand how a person can go sleep at night being responsible for such trauma, such carnage in Gaza,” said the Taoiseach.
“Hamas should be held responsible for what it did but not the entirety of the Palestinian people,” he said.
Martin appealed for international agencies and media to be allowed into Gaza.
“I have a view and a feeling that, please God, when this is over, and hopefully it will end that we haven’t seen the full extent of the horrors that actually have unfolded in Gaza,” he said.
Martin said he has condemned the 7 October attack by Hamas, stating that horrible things were done to innocent people, but told reporters that Netanyahu now seems ”completely blind to horrors of children being burned, bombed, maimed and mutilated in Gaza”.
The Taoiseach’s arrival in New York, following a visit to the Canadian capital Ottawa, was up in the air until the last minute.
Martin’s flight was repeatedly delayed due to thunderstorms and the Taoiseach’s team feared he would not make it to New York in time.
There were discussions about the possibility of making the eight-hour drive from Ottawa to New York but in the end, the flight left in time
Martin already spoke at the UN this week at the high level conference on Palestinian self-determination, when he commended the countries that had chosen to recognise the State of Palestine.
With reporting by David MacRedmond and Sophie Finn
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