LONDON

The Irish taoiseach (prime minister) expressed solidarity and support of Irish citizens to Palestinian people during a phone call with the Palestinian president on Monday. 

Simon Harris has once again called for a lasting cease-fire in Gaza, the free flow of urgently needed humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages to their families at a phone conversation with Mahmoud Abbas.

"Despite the humanitarian catastrophe and unconscionable loss of life in 2024, peace fuelled by a two-state solution must be the goal of world community in 2025," the Irish government said in a statement.

It noted that Harris expressed "the solidarity and unbreakable support" of the people of Ireland to the people of Palestine.

The Irish premier pledged that his country will continue to use its voice and its influence at every opportunity in every international forum it can, from the EU to the UN to bring about a cease-fire and to start to rebuild shattered lives.

Citing Abbas, Harris said 50 people have died and 100 have been injured in Gaza everyday in 2024, adding so-called safe zones have been bombed in the last few days and the conditions in Gaza as described by the UN are "horrific."

During the talk, the Palestinian president thanked Ireland over the decision to recognize the state of Palestine, mentioning that Palestinian Ambassador Jilan Abdalmajid officially presenting her credentials to Ireland this week was a great honor

"There were some who criticised our decision to recognise Palestine but I am resolute in the words I said on that day in May, 'there is never a wrong time to do the right thing," said Harris.

The two also discussed the first group of 8 seriously injured Palestinian children being medically evacuated to Ireland this week for treatment.

On Dec. 15, Israel announced a decision to close its embassy in Dublin over what it called "the extreme anti-Israel policies," a claim that Dublin has denied.

In early December, Ireland announced to formally join South Africa's genocide case against Israel following government approval and will be asking the court to "broaden its interpretation" of what constitutes genocide.

Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,300 people, most of them women and children, since an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.