Israel is now behaving like a ‘monster’ and a ‘rogue state’, Simon Coveney has warned.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, the Enterprise Minister said Ireland must use its voice “forcefully” to build international pressure on Israel to stop this “madness”.

He said it will be “impossible to avoid mass civilian casualties” if Israel moves ahead with its plan for a ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where around 1.5 million people are currently trapped.

Speaking before Cabinet, Minister Simon Coveney says Israel needs to start listening.

“I think where we are now is, we are we're witnessing Israel behaving like a rogue state quite frankly,” he said.

“They're ignoring the International Court of Justice; they seem now to even be ignoring their closest allies in countries like the United States and the UK, who are clearly calling for restraint, looking for the basis of a ceasefire, wanting to work with Israel to bring an end to this savagery.

“You know, I think it's very clear that civilians in Gaza have nowhere to go. Many of them have been displaced multiple times.

“The idea that you can simply continue to move them on when most of the Gaza Strip has now been destroyed is not consistent with international humanitarian law or with the obligations of parties at war.”

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney on his way into Government Buildings for a Cabinet meeting, 13-02-2024. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

He said Israel had a right to defend itself against the October 7th terror attack – but it does not have a right to do, “what it is continuing to do in Gaza right now, where there are huge civilian casualties – women and children being blown up on a nightly basis”.

“What we've seen in the last number of months must be unacceptable for the international community,” he said.

“You know, it is not acceptable effectively to behave like a monster to defeat a monster, which is what Israel is now doing.

“Ireland has been using its voice internationally to try to build consensus within the European Union to stop this madness and we need to continue to do that – forcefully, in my view.”

Palestinians look at a mosque destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Minister Coveney said the international community - particularly countries like the US and UK - must be much firmer and more insistent on being listened to.

He said there is also now an opportunity for the UN Security Council to act – with both the US and China now clearer in what they are saying to Israel.

The minister said the European Union’s position on the onslaught has “effectively moved towards the Irish position over the last number of weeks”.

“There are very few countries now not calling for a ceasefire,” he said.

“There are very few countries now not wanting to put pressure on Israel to pull back and look for a peace agreement that can prevent soldiers moving into a city that has one and a half million people in it.

“It's going to be impossible to avoid massive civilian casualties yet again in a small piece of land that's already seen 28,000 people dead over the last number of months.

“So actually, the Irish position has been an effective one where we're being listened to.

“What we do need to do is to work with, in particular, the countries that Israel would normally listen to. To try to push for a sane and sensible ceasefire that yes, protects Israel's security and their people, but brings an end to what has become a slaughter of innocent civilians.”

'It is difficult to comprehend that Israel is recklessly oblivious of the implications of its continued war'. Tánaiste Micheál Martin on continued efforts to end the war in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/ZGH8JPsJH3

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Also speaking on his way into Cabinet, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said Ireland will continue to press for an end to this "horrible war".

Reporting from Stephanie Rohan at Government Buildings.