Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Matt Carthy TD, has condemned Israeli attacks on cities in the occupied West Bank.

He called upon the Irish government and the international community to deploy ‘every diplomatic, economic and political measure at our disposal to end Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.’

Teachta Carthy said:

“For more than 10 months, Israel has unleashed a genocidal campaign upon the people of Gaza, killing more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than 16,000 children.

“The same period has seen a dramatic escalation in Israeli aggression against the West Bank, where over 502 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces and settlers, including at least 143 children.

“The West Bank has seen the mass detention of more than 9,300 Palestinians including 250 children.

“Today’s assaults on the cities of Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarm, alongside calls from the Israeli Foreign Minister to deploy measures similar to Gaza in the West Bank, cannot be viewed in any other light than an Israeli intention to unleash abject horror, genocide and ethnic cleansing upon the ordinary men, women and children of the West Bank.

“Those who have until now remained silent, or even enabled or provided political cover to Israel’s genocide in Gaza can deny reality no longer.

“In the face of an unfolding genocide Ireland is obliged to act even where consensus does not exist – the Irish government for their part must utilise every tool at their disposal to pressure Israel to call off their intended slaughter, to hold Israel to account and to demand their compliance with international law, including by:

• Enacting the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill and the Occupied Territories Bill
• Joining the ICJ Genocide case against Israel and
• Increasing funding to UNRWA

“Furthermore, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must desist from blocking a review of the EU/Israel Association Agreement which continues to provide Israel with what is among the closest of diplomatic and economic relationships with EU member states, including Ireland.

“Upon the return of the Dáil, I will be challenging the government to seek the advice of the Attorney General in relation to invoking Ireland’s right to challenge the European Commission on its failure to act.”