Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has condemned the attacks by the Israeli Government on the West Bank, and called on the Irish Government to use its voice, including at today’s meeting of EU leaders, to call for international action against Israel.

Teacta Ó Laoghaire said:

“Yesterday saw Israel destroy buildings, including residential blocks in the West Bank. This coincides with several breaches of the ceasefire in Gaza.

“Israel has acted with impunity over the last year and a half, and the failures of governments and the international community to act, has emboldened the government, even now during a ceasefire.

“Further violence is being visited upon the Palestinian people, international law is being broken, while powerful governments look the other way. It is shameful.

“While the ceasefire, and the release of hostages by Hamas and the Israeli Government was a cause of immense relief, the Israeli government has now adopted the attitude that it has a free hand to do what it wishes in the West Bank.

“Those responsible for mediating the ceasefire must hold Israel to account.

“Taoiseach Micheál Martin today attends a meeting of EU leaders. He should use this opportunity and any other opportunities available to him to increase pressure on the Israeli Government.

“It remains incumbent on the Irish Government to use all leverage available to it to demand justice.

“The Dáil should pass the Occupied Territories Bill – the government must advance it to proceed to committee stage, rather than dumping it and introducing a pale imitation as seems to be their intent.

“The Israeli Settlements Divestments Bill should also be progressed and the government should divest from companies that derive profits from activities in illegal settlements.

“Where the last government acted, it was due to pressure from the opposition and from the Irish people as a whole.

“Sinn Féin will be using the next opportunity available to us, to table a Dáil motion demanding action and sanctions against the Israeli Government.

“We know this will receive widespread support, not only from the opposition across the board, but from the Irish people as whole who have shown their revulsion at Israeli war crimes, and at these current attacks on the West Bank.

“The failure of governments internationally in the past to deliver sanctions has allowed the Israeli to act with impunity – that cannot be allowed to continue.”