EU foreign ministers last night called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the death toll in Gaza continued to rise after more than four days of airstrikes by Israeli forces.
Before they convened for an emergency meeting in Paris yesterday, several foreign ministers had floated the idea of a "humanitarian ceasefire" to allow badly needed relief supplies into Gaza.
But speaking to The Irish Times after the meeting ended late last night, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said his European counterparts agreed that the EU should demand a permanent end to hostilities.
Before he left for Paris, Mr Martin had strongly condemned the Israeli bombardment of Gaza as a "wholly disproportionate and unacceptable response" to Hamas rocket attacks.
"Actions such as these, as we know only too well from our own history, serve to continue and to escalate the cycle of violence," Mr Martin said.
"The level of civilian suffering and appalling loss of life is entirely unacceptable and the situation must not be allowed to escalate further," he added.
At last night's meeting, the minister stressed that any statement from the EU on Gaza should pay particular attention to civilian suffering and the worsening humanitarian crisis there.
Despite reaching consensus on the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire last night, EU member states have been divided in their views on the situation. The foreign minister of the Czech Republic, which tomorrow takes over the rotating EU presidency from France, has sided with Israel in recent days, saying the country had the right to defend itself, a position shared by Italy.
Meanwhile, condemnation of the violence continued in Ireland. In a joint statement, Church of Ireland primate The Most Reverend Alan Harper, and his Catholic counterpart, Cardinal Seán Brady, said they had watched events in Gaza unfold with "distress and deepening concern" for innocent victims.
Joining international calls for a ceasefire, they added: "Only when violence has ceased will it be possible to begin to negotiate a peace that will last." The churchmen also urged the EU and the US to use their influence to resolve the situation.
Irish Medical Aid for Palestinians, whose board members include chair of the Irish Red Cross David Andrews, Labour TD Michael D Higgins, chair of the Irish Human Rights Commission Maurice Manning and several Palestinian doctors working in Ireland, described the situation as "intolerable".
"The killing and maiming of the besieged Palestinians in Gaza must stop and medical supplies and equipment must be allowed to go through, immediately and without any restrictions," the group said.
Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews said Micheál Martin should make it clear to the Israeli ambassador that "Ireland views Israeli actions as completely unacceptable" and called on the Minister to review "all political and economic relationships" with Israel.
