Copyright thejournal
Advertisement We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding up a prop at the UN yesterday.Alamy Stock Photo If Gaza is failed, the UN and others can't complain if demoted to 'talking shop' status Tánaiste says he doesn’t want to be part of a ‘coalition of inaction’ – but that appears to be exactly what it is. 7.31am, 27 Sep 2025 Share options Christina Finn reports from New York WHY DOESN’T IRELAND support Israel “if we want to defeat terror”. The question by a international journalist outside the United Nations was posed to the Taoiseach in New York yesterday. Turning to the reporter to answer what was the final question of his trip before returning to Dublin, Martin shifted his position, knowing that he was not speaking to the Irish media. Martin told the reporter that after the 7 October attack, he travelled to Israel to show his solidarity with the Israeli people after the shocking atrocity. “We’ve been very clear when, anytime we’ve met with the Israeli government in the past, that we have experienced conflict and terror on our own island, but that we successfully worked on a peace process which brought about a resolution to the conflict in Northern Ireland, and there was political will to do that” said the Taoiseach. Martin said the peace process has worked in Northern Ireland. “The guns are silent… So Ireland sees the issue through the prism of international humanitarian law. We’re against terrorism. We believe in peaceful resolutions of conflict, but we feel, what is happening in Gaza is beyond any moral compass at this stage, and cannot be justified,” he told the journalist. It’s not Ireland saying this, it is independent commissions under the UN International organisations, as well as many other nations, many of which have used the United National platform this week to recognise the state of Palestine. This was a point the Taoiseach also conveyed to the reporter before adding that he is of the view that “we haven’t seen the full extent of the horrors that actually have unfolded in Gaza”. In the US, much of the sentiment of support lies with the Israelis. Netanyahu can ‘speak American’ Previously to becoming prime minister, Netanyahu, for all his criticisms of the UN these days, served as Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988. Sources who had dealings with him at the time told The Journal that he was a different operator back then and was described as being able to “speak American”. Perhaps this speaks to the influence he appears to have garnered with the US administration over the years, but this week there is a notable feeling that the dial is moving in that regard. Outside the United Nations Building, there were many protests are taking place at high-level week, where Palestine was high on the agenda. Protesters held up placards saying: “Ceasefire Now.” While others were outside waving Israeli flags that were sewn together with American flags. Advertisement Protesters outside the United Nations yesterday.Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo This week, both the Tánaiste and Taoiseach, who had a full week of engagements, mainly centering around the implementation of a two-state solution, said they would use this week to try and convince nations to move to Ireland’s position. After a week of international engagements, and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting US President Trump next week, there is cautious optimism that there might be movement on a ceasefire deal. But as Tánaiste Simon Harris said this week “there have been false dawns before”. Trump, who will meet Netanyahu on Monday, also said a ceasefire deal over the war in Gaza was “pretty close”. However, with words from the Israeli prime minister during his speech to the UN yesterday that he plans to “get the job done” and categorically ruling out a two-state solution, it is difficult to see where the optimism lies. Taoiseach addressing the United Nations yesterday. But the Taoiseach is holding on to hope. “We all know from history that when we’re in the depths of despair, when things are very bleak, peace can emerge,” he said. But was Trump correct in his words this week that the UN is very good at writing letters, but less good when it comes to ending world conflict? Martin disagrees with those comments. But it wasn’t just Trump who hit out at global inaction this week. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also hit out at international organisations who are showing weakness in standing up to Russia. Speaking about the slow pace at which the European Union is taking, the Tánaiste said he doesn’t want to be “part of a coalition of inaction”. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Ireland, and many other countries, appear to be part of right now. “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,” Martin told the UN yesterday. We cannot say we were not aware. We are aware. No one can say they are not. Eighty years ago, Europe said ‘never again’, which where such institutions like the UN and EU were born from. Taoiseach meeting with UN General Secretary António Guterres.DFA But can we honestly say the backstops, the mechanisms put in place to prevent history repeating itself are working? Probably not. If after a week of high-level engagement between the world’s most powerful leaders results in no concrete actions being taken to prevent, as the Taoiseach put it, “horrors of children being burned, bombed, maimed and mutilated in Gaza”, then the United Nations and other international bodies cannot complain if they are demoted to ‘talking shop’ status. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Christina Finn Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “If Gaza is failed, the UN and others can't complain if demoted to 'talking shop' status”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “If Gaza is failed, the UN and others can't complain if demoted to 'talking shop' status”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... Benjamin Netanyahu Micheál Martin Simon Harris un high level week News in 60 seconds The Morning Lead 'All we want is to feel safe': Ukrainians in new Clonmel estate attacked and threatened Eoghan Dalton Football Association of Ireland Sports Minister 'disappointed' he had to intervene for FAI to attend Oireachtas Committee 20 mins ago Surrealing in the Years Surrealing in the Years: You know who was really blocked from getting on the ballot? Me Ireland's Jake McCarthy wins bronze at World Rowing Championships in Shanghai Good Morning The 9 at 9: Saturday quit vaping services Taoiseach wants to see HSE-funded supports extended to help people quit vaping United Nations UN set to reinstate sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme The Daily Poll Who should be the next President of Ireland? Here we go again Brussels insists Trump's new 100% pharma tariffs will not apply to EU exports Members walked out on Netanyahu's UN speech before he even started Terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Mo Chara thrown out by London court more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine TG4 Entertainment Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online
