Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Matt Carthy TD, in welcoming the announcement that the government intends to intervene in South Africa’s case against under Israel under the Genocide Convention, has said that the Irish intervention must be a meaningful declaration that Israel is in breach of the convention.  

He added that the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, was correct in her assertion that the Irish government has yet to match supportive rhetoric with concrete actions that would hold Israel accountable for its crimes.

Deputy Carthy said that it is now imperative that Ireland does everything possible to apply pressure on Israel to cease its war against a civilian population, to bring an end to the occupation and the apartheid regime against the Palestinian people.

Teachta Carthy said:

“Francesca Albanese criticism of the ‘shameful’ and ‘disgraceful’ lack of concrete actions taken by Ireland against Israel was a timely wake up call for government.

“Reports that government now intend to intervene in this case are welcome and can potentially stand as the first such measure.

“The government should file its declaration to intervention without delay.  That intervention must be a meaningful one that sets out clearly the position of the Irish people that Israel is engaged in a genocide against the people of Gaza.  

“The intervention to the International Court of Justice should be just only of a suite of measures taken by government to hold Israel accountable for its crimes.

“Sinn Féin have brought forward a series of proposals to this end but government have failed to act in each instance.

“The time in which the government can employ a strong rhetorical approach without meaningful actions against the Israeli state in response to its blatant breaches of human rights and international law is gone.

“The Irish government has a moral and legal obligation to act to bring this genocide to an end and see those who commissioned held to account. They can begin by:• Making a meaningful declaration in the ICJ Genocide case against Israel without further delay
• Enacting the Illegal Israeli settlements divestment bill 
• Enacting the Occupied Territories Bill.
• Using every possible sanction available domestically and stepping up efforts to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement.
• Recognising the state of Palestine.

“Every diplomatic, economic and political measure at our disposal must now be utilised to sanction Israel for its blatant, cruel and cowardly disregard for international law and the basic rules of humanity.”