Europe will “regret” any failure not to take action against Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, Paschal Donohoe has warned. 

Today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Brussels for a meeting of the European Council, where the issue of Gaza is expected to dominate and divide discussions. 

Ireland is one of a number of countries that has supported a review of the EU-Israel association agreement, which governs the trading relationship between the bloc and the Middle Eastern nation. 

Today’s statements from Irish officials illustrate, yet again, their double standards concerning Israel.

When was the last time Ireland called to review an Association Agreement? If alleged human rights violations are the concern, has it done so with non democratic countries in… pic.twitter.com/cqOwwPObit

— Dana Erlich 🇮🇱 (@DanaErlich) June 21, 2025

While Dublin believes human rights violations by Israel in Gaza means the agreement should be suspended, it is understood that supporters of Israel would have the votes to block such a move. 

Israel has described an EU statement accusing it of potentially violating Palestinians' human rights as a “moral and methodological failure".

On Newstalk Breakfast, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Irish Government is making a “valuable” contribution to shaping EU policy towards Israel. 

“It’s a cause of huge worry to me, regarding where we are at at the moment,” he said. 

“Equally, I believe the efforts that the Government of Ireland, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are making are ever more valuable. 

“We have a growing number of countries that are willing to support the stance that Ireland has taken with Palestine. 

“I think it is a source of huge regret - and one that we will experience the consequences of in the future - if Europe can’t take a strong stand in relation to the awful plight of the people of Palestine at the moment, the people of Gaza in particular.” 

Minister Donohoe added that the Taoiseach would be “making this point really strongly today in Brussels.” 

Main image: Paschal Donohoe. Picture by: PA Wire/PA Images.