
Micheál Martin pleads for major powers to help de-escalate Israel-Iran conflict
Mr Martin warned that the escalating conflicts were very dangerous and deeply worrying - and he said global powers had to work together to achieve an end to the horrors in the Middle East.
He acknowledged the United Nations had been undermined and its influence was waning before international eyes.
"It is deeply concerning that we have so much conflict in the Middle East," he said.
"It is dangerous in terms of its impact on civilian populations in the first instance. We see the horrors of Gaza - Syria is coming out of the embers of a horrible civil war.
"A new Government is installed there endeavouring to find and create some stability - we have instability and war in Lebanon, a new Government there trying to create stability and sustainable life for people in Lebanon.
"We have the appalling settlements in the West Bank.
"Iran should have engaged a long time ago on its nuclear programme and to dismantling it.
"But there has to be a return to a rules-based international order. At the moment it is receding before our very eyes. It is being eroded - the United Nations (UN) is being eroded and that is a matter of deep concern to us.
"We want to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict - we believe in dialogue and we believe in diplomacy. So we would say - to the world powers in particular - to use their influence and stop the hostilities to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
"And to get a huge surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"Also to bring about a cessation (of violence) and to de-escalate between Iran and Israel."
Mr Martin urged Iran to engage with the international community over its nuclear programme and to help de-escalate tensions in the region.
"It is important that they would continue to engage but the context now may make that very difficult,' he said.
"They should have engaged, in my view, far more proactively in the past.
"The International Atomic Energy Agency called it out during the week - but equally they said the bombing of nuclear installations is hugely concerning. There is the risk of widespread potential death and destruction.
"The only sustainable way of ensuring peace is through dialogue and diplomacy, ultimately."
Mr Martin welcomed the release of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy from custody in Egypt after he was detained when he attempted to join a Gaza peace march in Rafah.
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris confirmed the release of Mr Murphy and a number of other Irish citizens on Friday evening.
Mr Harris had liaised with Irish diplomats in Cairo as well as the Egyptian authorities over the detentions.
"The situation is very fraught out there. Tensions are very high in Egypt and very high in Jordan. We believe people have an entitlement to peaceful protest and to engage in that," Mr Martin said.
"How realistic it was to try to go through Rafah is another question? Let's all be honest and realistic about that - it was never going to happen.
"I have been to Rafah myself - but when I was there as a Government minister there was a complex and a compound. That is all destroyed subsequently by the Israeli invasion.
"The security situation on both sides of that border is very, very tense and volatile. There are challenges to marching right up to the Rafah border.
"That said, people are entitled to peaceful protest and I am glad they have been released and we want their safe return - peaceful, legitimate protest is something that should always be facilitated by Governments."
Mr Murphy has had his passport returned to him by the Egyptian authorities but said his phone was still held.

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