Ireland moves to bar entry of Israeli ministers

The Irish government has instructed officials to prevent two senior Israeli ministers from entering the country, marking a symbolic but significant escalation in Dublin’s criticism of Israel’s policies in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Speaking to reporters in Tivat, Montenegro, where he was attending a summit between European Union and Western Balkans leaders, Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál Martin confirmed that a directive had been issued to block travel to Ireland by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, The Irish Times reports.

“Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, [it] is my understanding, has instructed his officials to prohibit any travel into Ireland [for] both minister Ben-Gvir and minister Smotrich,” Martin said.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been among the most vocal supporters of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank. Martin said their conduct warranted broader international action.

“That’s again something that the international community needs to take on board and we will be pursuing that with others,” he said.

“In my view, their behaviour justifies sanctions at EU level as well, and that’s something that we will raise; whether we can get sufficient support across the European Union is a different matter.”

The move comes amid renewed efforts in Brussels to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir following controversy surrounding a recent Gaza-bound flotilla. However, diplomats remain uncertain whether unanimous backing from all 27 EU member states can be secured.

According to diplomatic sources, Germany may be open to sanctions against Ben-Gvir but not Smotrich, while the Czech Republic is opposed to sanctions on either minister, potentially blocking any EU-wide measures.

Martin also sharply criticized Israel’s conduct during and after the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza, describing the humanitarian situation as deeply concerning.

“We’re now hearing very poor, negative reports about the absence of really sufficient humanitarian and medical aid going in [to Gaza]. Almost what we’re witnessing is a sort of permanent state of subjugation of a people and that’s not acceptable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s government is preparing to introduce the Occupied Territories Bill in the Dáil next week. Originally proposed more than eight years ago by Independent Senator Frances Black, the legislation was delayed by successive administrations before being adopted and revised by the current government.

Now titled the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, the measure would prohibit the importation of goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

However, the bill will not include a ban on the trade of services with entities operating in those territories, despite calls from campaigners. Opposition parties are expected to seek amendments expanding the legislation to cover services, though the government has indicated it will resist such changes.

In a related development, Sinn Féin is due to table a motion urging the government to block the Republic of Ireland’s scheduled football international against Israel in October and to compensate the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for any resulting costs.

By Vafa Guliyeva