Tánaiste joins 14 Foreign Ministers in New York Call for immediate Gaza ceasefire and two-state solution

Tánaiste Simon Harris has announced that Ireland has signed a joint statement of Foreign Ministers agreed at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which took place in New York this week.

15 countries have joined the New York Call: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain.

The Conference, attended by over 130 UN Member States, was an opportunity to bring a renewed sense of urgency to the implementation of the two-State solution in the interests of both Israel and Palestine, and their legitimate rights to live in their own state, in peace, security and dignity. The conference also highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a ceasefire, release of hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale into and throughout Gaza.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “This Conference has demonstrated there is another way forward. The international community demands an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal and urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza, and is ready to take concrete steps to implement the two-State solution.

“Ireland is doubling down on our commitment to achieve a just, lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security. We will continue to do all in our power to work for that peace.”

Ireland was represented at the Conference by the Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, who said: “This is a decisive moment for the international community, as together we demonstrate support for the two State solution as the only viable path to securing lasting peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region. We continue to witness appalling suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, where hunger and death take an increasingly heavy toll.

“Hostages remain in captivity. We need a ceasefire, to silence the guns. Hamas must release the hostages and Israel must allow life-saving aid into Gaza at scale immediately and stop the blockades, bombardment and brutality. We need to chart a political pathway to peace and commit to taking concrete steps to achieve this. Most of all, we need political will to act, to bring this conflict to an end, and to secure lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain,

Condemn the heinous and antisemitic terrorist attack of October 7th, 2023;

Demand an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access;

Reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority;

Express grave concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasize the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance;

Welcome the commitments made by the President of the Palestinian Authority on June 10th where he (i) condemns the October 7th terrorist attacks (ii) calls for the liberation of hostages and disarmament of Hamas (iii) commits to terminate the prisoner payment system (iv) commits to schooling reform, (v) commits to call for elections within a year to trigger generational renewal and (vi) accepts the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian State;

Ahead of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government that will take place during the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025, we, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain,

Have already recognized, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognize the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-State solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call;

Urge countries who have not done so yet to establish normal relations with Israel, and to express their willingness to enter into discussions on the regional integration of the State of Israel;

Express our determination to work on an architecture for the “day after” in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance.

ENDS

Press Office

30 July 2025

Ireland joined over 130 UN Member States participating in the UN High Level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which took place 28-30 July in New York. Ireland is a Co-Chair of Working Group 6 of the Conference, alongside Türkiye, on Preserving the Viability of the Two-State Solution. The Foreign Ministers of France and Saudi Arabia are co-chairs of the meeting.

Ireland’s National Statement, delivered on Tuesday 29 July.