Ireland’s Senate has unanimously called for sanctions against Israel, including an international arms embargo and preventing the passage of US weapons to Israel from passing through Irish airspace and seaports, in the wake of Israeli military operation in Gaza.
(File photo: Reuters)
Yusra Asif, Al Arabiya English
Published: 28 February ,2024:
Ireland’s Senate has unanimously called for sanctions against Israel, including an international arms embargo and preventing the passage of US weapons to Israel from passing through Irish airspace and seaports, in the wake of Israeli military operation in Gaza.
The motion by Senators Frances Black, Lynne Ruane, Alice Mary Higgins, and Eileen Flynn called on the Irish government to impose restrictions against Israel and urge the international community for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the motion, Ireland must impose sanctions on Israel, ban imported goods and services from Israeli settlements, divest from companies in these settlements, prevent US weapons from passing through Ireland, and push for an international arms embargo on Tel Aviv.
In the document, Senators expressed regret over the “failure of many in the international community to hold Israel to account for their actions in breach of international law and the unwillingness of many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the Council of European Union to call for an immediate ceasefire or stop weapons sale to Israel.”
Countries such as the US, UK, and Germany have continued to supply weapons to Israel to aid its military operation in Gaza, often citing that Tel Aviv has a right to defend itself after the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 253 taken hostages, according to Israel’s tally.
Israel’s air and ground offensive has since devastated much of Gaza, killing 29,878 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and injuring over 70,000, according to the latest numbers from Gaza’s health ministry.
UN experts and aid agencies have said arms export to Israel must be stopped immediately, adding that weapons or ammunition sent to be deployed in Gaza are likely to violate international humanitarian law.
Several countries have halted arms exports to Israel after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in January, which ordered Israeli forces to take measures to prevent any actions that may be characterized as genocide.
Countries including Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Japan’s Itochu corporation suspended weapons transfer to Israel.
Meanwhile, the US Senate approved a bill to send $14 billion in military aid to Israel on February 13.
The UK has, since 2015, licensed at least $599 million worth of military exports to Israel, including components for combat aircraft, missiles, tanks, technology, small arms, and ammunition, according to Human Rights Watch.
The UK provides approximately 15 percent of the components in the F-35 stealth bomber aircraft currently used in Gaza.
Germany exported more than $379 million worth of military equipment and arms to Israel last year, a 10-fold increase since 2022.
After the October 7 Hamas attack, Germany approved 185 additional licenses – 28 percent of Israel’s weapons imports come from Germany.
The Irish motion said the European Union has “failed to be consistent in seeking application of international law and by its double standards has engaged in acts of gross hypocrisy and moral failure.”
“While all this slaughter is happening, the EU is dithering and playing political games with the lives of the people of Palestine,” Irish Senator Lynn Boylan said.
“Instead of spending serious time and effort calling for a ceasefire, we have seen the President of the European Commission give unconditional and unqualified support to Netanyahu’s genocidal onslaught.”
The motion denounced Israel’s disregard for the International Court of Justice, which in January, ordered Israeli forces to take measures to prevent any actions that may be characterized as genocide. It also expressed concerns over the “unacceptably slow pace” of the International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel.
The motion would have to pass through the Irish Parliament, which is directly elected, and a more powerful chamber to come into effect.
Ireland was the first EU country to declare Israel’s illegal settlements to be “de facto annexation” of Palestinian land. In 1980, the government made history by becoming the first EU member to officially call for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Yusra Asif, Al Arabiya English
Published: 28 February ,2024:
Ireland’s Senate has unanimously called for sanctions against Israel, including an international arms embargo and preventing the passage of US weapons to Israel from passing through Irish airspace and seaports, in the wake of Israeli military operation in Gaza.
The motion by Senators Frances Black, Lynne Ruane, Alice Mary Higgins, and Eileen Flynn called on the Irish government to impose restrictions against Israel and urge the international community for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the motion, Ireland must impose sanctions on Israel, ban imported goods and services from Israeli settlements, divest from companies in these settlements, prevent US weapons from passing through Ireland, and push for an international arms embargo on Tel Aviv.
In the document, Senators expressed regret over the “failure of many in the international community to hold Israel to account for their actions in breach of international law and the unwillingness of many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the Council of European Union to call for an immediate ceasefire or stop weapons sale to Israel.”
Countries such as the US, UK, and Germany have continued to supply weapons to Israel to aid its military operation in Gaza, often citing that Tel Aviv has a right to defend itself after the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 253 taken hostages, according to Israel’s tally.
Israel’s air and ground offensive has since devastated much of Gaza, killing 29,878 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and injuring over 70,000, according to the latest numbers from Gaza’s health ministry.
UN experts and aid agencies have said arms export to Israel must be stopped immediately, adding that weapons or ammunition sent to be deployed in Gaza are likely to violate international humanitarian law.
Several countries have halted arms exports to Israel after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in January, which ordered Israeli forces to take measures to prevent any actions that may be characterized as genocide.
Countries including Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Japan’s Itochu corporation suspended weapons transfer to Israel.
Meanwhile, the US Senate approved a bill to send $14 billion in military aid to Israel on February 13.
The UK has, since 2015, licensed at least $599 million worth of military exports to Israel, including components for combat aircraft, missiles, tanks, technology, small arms, and ammunition, according to Human Rights Watch.
The UK provides approximately 15 percent of the components in the F-35 stealth bomber aircraft currently used in Gaza.
Germany exported more than $379 million worth of military equipment and arms to Israel last year, a 10-fold increase since 2022.
After the October 7 Hamas attack, Germany approved 185 additional licenses – 28 percent of Israel’s weapons imports come from Germany.
The Irish motion said the European Union has “failed to be consistent in seeking application of international law and by its double standards has engaged in acts of gross hypocrisy and moral failure.”
“While all this slaughter is happening, the EU is dithering and playing political games with the lives of the people of Palestine,” Irish Senator Lynn Boylan said.
“Instead of spending serious time and effort calling for a ceasefire, we have seen the President of the European Commission give unconditional and unqualified support to Netanyahu’s genocidal onslaught.”
The motion denounced Israel’s disregard for the International Court of Justice, which in January, ordered Israeli forces to take measures to prevent any actions that may be characterized as genocide. It also expressed concerns over the “unacceptably slow pace” of the International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel.
The motion would have to pass through the Irish Parliament, which is directly elected, and a more powerful chamber to come into effect.
Ireland was the first EU country to declare Israel’s illegal settlements to be “de facto annexation” of Palestinian land. In 1980, the government made history by becoming the first EU member to officially call for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
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