LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct 2023

TÁNAISTE AND FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has said that he “fears for” people in Gaza as Israel retaliates after an attack by militant group Hamas.

“This was in my view an appalling attack by Hamas, and one which they know the consequences [of] as well,” he told reporters ahead of the Fianna Fáil President’s Dinner in Dublin this evening. 

I fear for people in Gaza in terms of because we’ve seen what has happened before and there needs to be a political will towards a political solution.

Martin earlier condemned the attacks on X, formerly Twitter, calling for an immediate end to the violence.

“I strongly condemn the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and attacks against Israel from Gaza. I deeply regret the loss of life and the impact on civilians. I call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities,” Martin posted.

The Tánaiste’s remarks came after militants in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented infiltration into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country this morning.

Dozens of Israeli’s have been killed and people were kidnapped in the assault. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Nethanyahu has declared war in response, and the country has already retaliated strongly.

Martin said the scale of today’s attack is “quite shocking”, but that any Israeli response needed to be “proportionate”.

“The scale of this and the attack on civilians I think is to be condemned and it’s quite shocking, the scale of it,” he told reporters ahead of the Fianna Fáil President’s Dinner in Dublin this evening. 

Israel has, under international law, the right to its own defence, but that has to be properly exercised. I think the proportionate response is key, but also I think overall we need the violence to end.

Martin said it was vital that the “voice of moderation” come to the fore in terms of bringing an end to the conflict. 

Martin also said that the attacks did not dent Ireland’s continued support for a two-state solution to the long running Israeli-Palestine conflict.

He was also asked about Irish peacekeepers serving in the south Lebanon region, and whether there were concerns for them as a result of the escalating situation.

“Obviously the situation there will be relatively tense also and we are monitoring that situation and obviously alert to any potential spillover,” Martin said. 

New operation 

Hamas sent fighters across the border as they announced the beginning of a new operation. The Israeli military began striking targets in Gaza in response, setting the stage for what is likely to be a new heavy round of fighting between the bitter enemies.

“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, adding Hamas had launched a “murderous surprise attack” on Israel and its people.

There has been widespread condemnation of the attacks from international leaders.

International reaction

Speaking in the White House this evening, US President Joe Biden said that the United States “stands with Israel” and “we will never fail to have their back”. 

“The world has seen appalling images, thousands of rockets in a space of hours raining down on Israeli cities. I got up this morning and started this at 7.30-8 o’clock to hear Hamas terrorists crossing into Israel, killing not only Israeli soldiers but Israeli civilians, in the street and their homes. Innocent people murdered wounded, entire families taken hostage by Hamas.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Israel has an “absolute right to defend itself” after the attacks.

In a post on X, he wrote:

“I am shocked by this morning’s attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens.

Israel has an absolute right to defend itself. We’re in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.

French leader Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attacks, and expressed solidarity with the victims.

“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks currently hitting Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones,” he posted on X.

German leader Olaf Scholz also joined the condemnation.

“Horrifying news reaches us today from #Israel . The rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence shock us deeply. Germany condemns these Hamas attacks and stands by Israel,” he posted.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the attacks are “terrorism in its most despicable form”.

“I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel,” she posted.

Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Hezbollah congratulated Hamas for the operation, saying it had “divine backing”.

The group said the attack is a response to “Israel’s crimes” and attacks on holy places and that “the will of the Palestinian people and the rifle of the resistance is the only alternative to face occupation”.

Hezbollah said that its military command in Lebanon is following the developments on the ground and is in direct contact with the Palestinian command and they are both “evaluating the situation and the ongoing operation”.

History

The attacks have come after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel’s volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of the territory in 2007.

The bitter enemies have fought four wars since then. There have also been numerous rounds of smaller fighting between Israel and Hamas and other smaller militant groups based in Gaza.

The blockade, which restricts the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, has devastated the territory’s economy. Israel says the blockade is needed to keep militant groups from building up their arsenals. The Palestinians say the closure amounts to collective punishment.

The rocket fire comes during a period of heavy fighting in the West Bank, where nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military raids this year.

Israel says the raids are aimed at militants, but stone-throwing protesters and people not involved in the violence have also been killed. Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets have killed more than 30 people.

With reporting from Press Association