Irish premier meets EU leaders to discuss Gaza

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Ireland's newly-elected Prime Minister Simon Harris on Thursday met European leaders to discuss a number of issues, including the situation in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed more than 33,000 Palestinians and brought its population of more than 2 million on the verge of famine.

The 37-year-old, who became Ireland's youngest-ever premier on Tuesday, separately met European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.

"We discussed Gaza, Ukraine and my conversation with @ZelenskyyUa as well as our priorities for the EU," Harris wrote on X.

Following his meeting with von der Leyen, he said: "We had much to discuss including the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the need for a ceasefire, the situation in Ukraine, agriculture in the EU & our shared priorities."

"I’m glad to count on Ireland in our unwavering support to Ukraine & our efforts to help restore stability in the Middle-East," noted von der Leyen.

On Wednesday, he had phone talks with Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Sunak and Harris agreed on the "unconditional release of remaining hostages" while expressing "grave concern" over the worsening humanitarian situation and the need for Israel to accelerate the scale of aid delivered to Gaza.

Harris will also attend a summit hosted by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and meet Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez in Dublin on Friday as the Spanish premier will begin a round of contacts to discuss a plan to recognize the Palestinian state.