In an open letter published by Uplift, the signatories condemn Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying there is “no justification for the indiscriminate killing or the holding of civilian hostages”.

However, the letter warns that Israel’s “ultra right-wing” leader Benjamin Netanyahu has now pledged “to ‘open the gates of hell’ on innocent people trapped in Gaza with no hope of escape”.

“Having already lived in an apartheid state for decades, the people of Gaza are now without food, water or electricity,” it states.

The open letter is addressed to Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan — the three leaders of Ireland’s governing Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Green Party.

It continues: “As civil society organisations working for freedom, equality and justice for all people in our communities and across the world, we call on you to do all you can to stop the atrocities and war crimes taking place. The collective punishment and intentional targeting of innocent civilians in retaliation for the attack by Hamas can never be justified.

“We recognise the leadership you have shown in attempting to influence fellow government leaders across the EU to demand that international law is upheld and human rights are protected.

“We need you to do all you can to stop governments around the world aiding the Israeli government in committing war crimes and breaking international law by sending military assistance and halting aid payments to Gaza when the people there need it most.

“We need you to add your voice to the call for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to allow urgent supplies to be brought to the people of Gaza and help secure the return of hostages unharmed.

“We need you to force social media corporations headquartered in Ireland, to stop the alarming spread of online disinformation that is fuelling polarisation and is ramping up calls for the retributive massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

“A future of peace and safety for all, grounded in justice, freedom and equality for all, is the only option.”

Commenting on the collective effort, Siobhán O’Donoghue of Uplift said: “We want government leaders to know that Irish civil society is speaking with one voice, that we want them to all they can to help de-escalate the genocide and warcrimes taking place in Gaza.

“Ireland can play a special role in helping to broker assistance to people in Gaza, and help political leaders recognise the disastrous consequences of backing the brutal Israeli government’s collective punishment of innocent civilians in Palestine.”

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland are also among signatories to the letter.