Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and local TD Matt Carthy has said the government must take action against Israel over its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
He said that the recent strong words by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in respect of Israel's flagrant breaches of international law must be matched by ensuring that the state pays an economic price for the war crimes it continues to commit. Deputy Carthy called on the government to allow the passage and enactment of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill and the Occupied Territories Bill, and ensure that no further export licences are granted that provide for the sale of goods with a military use to Israel.
Deputy Carthy said despite all of the strong words from government leaders, the fact remains that Israel enjoys one of the most preferential trading, economic and diplomatic relationships with Ireland and the EU, even as it commits a genocide against the Palestinian people. He said Israel's genocidal onslaught against the civilian population of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 Palestinians. That state is in flagrant breach of international law. It is unconscionable that Ireland continues to trade with Israel as if it was a normal economic paper.
Deputy Carthy added that if international law and the UN Charter are to retain any meaning, then there can be no more equivocation or half-hearted measures or statements - Israel must be condemned, meaningfully sanctioned and held to account.
