Ireland first in EU to condemn annexation of Palestinian land by Israel

Foreign minister criticises Israel’s ‘manifestly unequal’ treatment of Palestinians

Palestinians smoke a shisha pipe at the site of an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire was announced on Friday. Reuters

A Palestinian man lights a fire amid the rubble of his house in the Gaza Strip, which was destroyed by an Israeli air attack. Reuters

Children survey a water-filled crater where a home was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo

Children hold candles at the site of a house that was destroyed by Israeli air strikes during the recent Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza. Reuters

A Palestinian man unloads boxes of aid from an Egyptian lorry at the Rafah border crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt. AFP

A boy waves a Palestinian flag at a site damaged by Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Reuters

A bicycle ride near the rubble of a house in Gaza that was destroyed during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Reuters

A Palestinian man sifts through the debris of the Al Jalaa tower, which housed media organisations and was destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza city. AFP

Nader Al Masri, a Palestinian long-distance runner who competed in the 2008 Olympics. His home in the northern Gaza Strip was severely damaged in an Israeli air strike. AP Photo

An Israeli air strike blew this hole in the wall of a child's room in Beit Hanoun, the northern Gaza Strip. AP Photo

The Irish government condemned the "de facto annexation" of Palestinian territory by Israel and the scale of its settlement expansions.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Ireland is the first EU government to use the phrase in relation to Israel.

Ireland’s government on Tuesday backed a parliamentary mention condemning the annexation of Palestinian land, with Mr Coveney criticising Israel’s “manifestly unequal” treatment of Palestinian people.

"The scale, pace and strategic nature of Israel's actions on settlement expansion and the intent behind it have brought us to a point where we need to be honest about what is actually happening on the ground … it is de facto annexation," Mr Coveney said in parliament.

"This is not something that I, or in my view this house, says lightly. We are the first EU state to do so. But it reflects the huge concern we have about the intent of the actions and of course, their impact," he said.

The comments follow the worst fighting in years between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, including Hamas, although a ceasefire has since been agreed.

The motion condemning Israel was put forward by the opposition Sinn Fein party. Mr Coveney insisted on adding an amendment to the motion criticising Hamas's rocket attacks on Israel – a move that Sein Fein refused to support.

"The acts of terror by Hamas and other militant groups in firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel … cannot and should not ever be justified," Mr Coveney said.

A Palestinian girl takes selfie with her mobile amid the rubble of the destroyed Al Shorouq tower after a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian fighters, in Beit Hanoun, the northern Gaza Strip. EPA

A satellite view of the damage caused by Israeli air strikes in and around Gaza City. Reuters

People salvage valuable items from inside the severely damaged Al Jawhara building after a ceasefire put an end to an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian fighters, in Gaza City. AP Photo

Mannequins are visible within the rubble of a destroyed Al Shorouq tower after a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters, in Beit Hanoun, the northern Gaza Strip. EPA

A Palestinian girl runs next to her family's destroyed house after a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters, in Beit Hanoun, the northern Gaza Strip. EPA

Palestinians inspect the rubble of their destroyed houses after a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters, in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip. EPA

A child looks at the gun held by a member of the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, as a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza City. Getty Images

People gather and watch the removal of unexploded ordnance as a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza City. Getty Images

People pass and look at rubble from a previously destroyed building by an air strike as a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza City. Getty Images

Palestinians enjoy the beach as a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza City. Getty Images

People stand atop a pile of debris from a building previously destroyed in an air strike following a ceasefire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City. AP Photo

A child has her face painted with the Palestinian flag beside a mound of rubble from a building destroyed previously in an air strike following a ceasefire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City. AP Photo

People enter the severely damaged Al Jawhara building to salvage valuable items following a ceasefire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City. AP Photo

People take pictures In front of rubble from a previously destroyed building by an air strike as a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza City. Getty Images

People clean the streets of debris beside a building that was damaged in an air strike after the end of an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, in Gaza City. AP Photo

A Palestinian child sits amid the rubble of family destroyed house after a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters, in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. EPA