Taoiseach warns the world will be "shamed" by what’s happening in Gaza

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Martin said the international community had failed the Palestinian people and argued that previous efforts to bring peace had done little to change the situation on the ground.

He also criticized Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, saying it was making the possibility of a future Palestinian state increasingly difficult. He warned that Palestinian communities were continuing to face displacement and destruction, while violence by settlers was going largely unpunished.

Mr Martin said the only lasting answer to the conflict was for Israel and a Palestinian state to exist alongside each other, with both peoples able to live in peace, security, and dignity.

The Taoiseach also called for the United States and Iran to return to negotiations. He said Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and called for an end to what he described as Iran’s destabilizing activities across the region.

Russia’s war in Ukraine was another key issue in his address. Mr Martin said Russia could bring the conflict to an end but had chosen not to, while warning that the war was affecting people far beyond Ukraine through higher food and energy costs.

He also highlighted the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the situation facing women in Afghanistan, and concerns about the rights of LGBTQI+ people around the world.

Mr Martin defended the importance of international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. He said countries should continue working together on peace, human rights, security and development rather than turning away from international institutions.

The Taoiseach also used his address to promote Ireland’s campaign for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term.

* This article was origianlly published on Extra.ie.