Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Matt Carthy TD, has welcomed confirmation that Ireland has formally and finally joined the case against Israel for genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Deputy Carthy said that the move of the outgoing government to file a declaration of intervention to the ICJ proceedings was as a result of political pressure from campaigners along with Sinn Féin with other opposition voices.

He contended that the same pressure will need to apply on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to ensure that they follow through with pre-election commitments to enact the Occupied Territories Bill and other sanctions against Israel.

Teachta Carthy said:

“It is welcome that Ireland has formally and finally joined the case against Israel for the crime of genocide before the International Court of Justice.

“This happened because of political pressure from campaigners all over Ireland, from Sinn Féin and from other opposition voices. We have come a long way from when then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, denied that Gazans were entitled to protection under this convention, or when Micheál Martin misrepresented the rules of the court regarding Ireland’s right to intervene.

“The ICJ has already determined that Israel has a plausible case to answer in respect of the charge of genocide. People all over the globe struggle to find a term other than genocide to describe Israeli barbarity in Gaza. It is imperative that action is taken to force Israel to stop this genocide.

“Therefore, filing a declaration of intervention to the ICJ proceedings is an important step. But it must be followed by meaningful sanctions against Israel.

“A written submission to the ICJ is not enough, government should seek a full oral hearing before the International Court of Justice to outline exactly how Israels crimes constitute genocide.

“Above all, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must deliver on their pre-election commitment to speedily enact the Occupied Territories Bill. Further, any incoming government must also agree to advance Sinn Féin’s illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill, stop export licenses for dual-use products, which have a military use, to Israel and step up efforts to secure the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

“The week the Dáil returns will mark six years since Fine Gael began to underhandedly oppose the Occupied Territories Bill, and nearly five years since Fianna Fáil joined them in that endeavour.

“We cannot now allow them to pass a watered-down version that strips out any aspect required for full Irish compliance with the existing rulings and opinions of the International Court of Justice.

“Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for the swift and full adoption of the Occupied Territories Bill and other sanctions – this will only happen if ordinary Irish people continue in their own activism across every village, town and city in Ireland.”