Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, has said that there is ‘an urgent need to deploy every available diplomatic, legislative and economic sanction to bring Israel to heel and into compliance with international law’.

Speaking against the backdrop of Israeli attacks on and pending invasion of Lebanon and an Iranian missile attack against Israel, Deputy Carthy said that ‘at every opportunity Israel has sabotaged negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release and is now committed to escalating the situation into an all-out regional war.’

Teachta Carthy said:

“Israel has murdered more than 40,000 Palestinian men, women and children in their genocidal campaign against Gaza.

“As they have purposefully extended their illegal attacks to Lebanon, it has become grossly apparent that the goal of the Israeli government is an all-out regional war.

“Israel flagrantly breaches international law because it is allowed to. Israel has never been held to account and is shielded by among the most powerful countries in the world.

“Despite important statements from the Irish government, it is fact to say that Ireland has never taken a single meaningful sanction against Israel. The failure of the international community to act is our collective failure.

“The Irish government must immediately sanction Israel through the introduction of the Occupied Territories Bill and Sinn Féin’s Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill.

“We must also urgently support South Africa in the case they have taken against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice.

“Conscious of our Defence Forces currently stationed in Lebanon, it is imperative that Ireland do more to get the International Community to reign in Israel, before the situation spirals even further.

“Too many innocent lives have been lost. Too many children have suffered. The route cause is the occupation, annexation and apartheid regime imposed by Israel. It is way past time for the international community to act and take meaningful action to enforce a ceasefire by all actors.”