Tánaiste Simon Harris will advise Cabinet ministers on Wednesday that only coordinated EU-wide trade measures can effectively pressure Israel over its actions in Gaza.
Ministers will be told that there must be “a move on an EU-wide basis” to “pressure Israel to stop the killing, starvation, and genocide in Gaza” during their morning meeting at Government Buildings.
The Cabinet discussion comes ahead of the first day of the new Dáil term, which begins at 2pm on Wednesday. The Tánaiste’s recommendation reflects Ireland’s continued strong stance on the situation in Gaza and its preference for multilateral European action rather than unilateral measures.
Ireland has been among the most vocal critics of Israeli military actions in Gaza within the European Union, with the Government previously recognizing Palestinian statehood alongside Spain and Norway earlier this year.
The push for EU-wide trade measures represents an escalation in Ireland’s diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza through economic pressure. However, securing unanimous agreement across all 27 EU member states for such measures typically presents significant challenges, as several countries maintain different positions on the conflict.
The timing of Harris’s Cabinet presentation coincides with ongoing international efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where conditions have deteriorated significantly since the conflict intensified. Ireland’s approach emphasizes the need for collective European action to maximize diplomatic and economic impact on Israeli policy.
The Cabinet meeting will set the tone for the Government’s approach as the new Dáil session begins, with international relations and Ireland’s position on the Middle East conflict expected to feature prominently in parliamentary discussions.