No ‘business as usual’ with Israel: Ireland’s FM

Brussels (Quds News Network)- Ireland’s foreign minister Micheal Martin has stated that the European Union’s relationship with Israel should not continue as usual while the country is violating international law in the Gaza war.

“This is a war against Palestinians not just against Hamas… It’s a war on the population,” Martin told reporters on Thursday during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “No point in trying to fudge this.”

Martin also referenced the International Court of Justice’s ruling that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is unlawful, which he said demands action from the EU.

“It cannot be business as usual,” Martin said. “It is very clear to us that international humanitarian law has been broken.”

Martin’s comments track with earlier remarks he made backing a proposal by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, to enact sanctions against Israeli ministers who deploy “hate messages” against Palestinians.

Ireland is one of the EU’s most pro-Palestinian members.

“We will be supporting Josep Borrell’s recommendation for sanctions in respect of settler organizations in the West Bank who are facilitating (the) expansion of settlements, and also to Israeli ministers,” Martin told reporters as he arrived at the Brussels meeting.

Borrell did not name any of the Israeli ministers to whom he was referring or specify which messages he had in mind.

However, in recent weeks, he has publicly criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for statements he has described as “sinister” and “an incitement to war crimes” as they have publicly called for Israel to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and push more Palestinians out of Gaza.

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter also said she will offer full support for the imposition of sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich during the meeting.

“Genocidal policies and statements should not go unpunished,” she said in a post on X.

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