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LAST UPDATE | 11 May 2021
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER Simon Coveney told the Israeli Ambassador at a meeting today that the loss of life in Gaza last night was “completely unacceptable”.
Ambassador Ophir Kariv had been summoned to a meeting with minister after Israel unleashed new air strikes on Gaza, killing a number of militants and civilians.
As of last night, 28 Palestinians – including 10 children and a woman – were killed in Gaza, most by air strikes, health officials there said.
The Israeli military said at least 16 of the dead were militants. Two Israelis have been killed in rocket attacks from militants.
Last night Coveney tweeted that the cycle of violence must end, stating that Ireland will continue to raise concerns in the UN Security Council, where Ireland is now a member.
In a meeting that lasted 45 minutes this afternoon, the minister is understood to have reiterated Ireland’s firm stance that the loss of life among civilians in Gaza last night was completely unacceptable.
He told the ambassador that Israel has a duty to protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law.
The minister reiterated his condemnation of the firing of rockets from Gaza and the impact on Israeli civilians.
He urged the Israeli authorities to urgently take action to de-escalate the situation.
I’ve been in @UNRWA schools in #Gaza. Killing of children in conflict is never acceptable. Israel should be condemned for targeting Gaza with such tragic consequences.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) May 11, 2021
Firing rockets from Gaza must be condemned, but so too should such a brutal response. This violence must end. https://t.co/qDMj4QjiRI
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland has condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, stating that intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population is a war crime under the Rome Statute.
He said the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have called on the International Criminal Court to speed up the processes surrounding their investigations of Israeli war crimes.
Ambassador Abdalmajid said: “Firing into a densely populated civilian area is obscene. We have already seen 9 children and dozens more people killed, and watched the traumatic scenes today as their families buried them. The international community must act now to sanction this apartheid regime.”
Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Senator Vincent P. Martin said the attacks in Gaza were an “extraordinary obscenity and it is deeply offensive for the Israeli security forces to turn a mosque on a holy site in Jerusalem into a battleground”.
“The totally disproportionate and aggressive military response from the Israeli security forces can only serve to fuel tensions and provoke further violence. However meeting the Israeli response with further violence will not resolve this crisis.
“The UN Security Council, the EU, US President Joe Biden and all democracies must use their collective influential voices to call out such aggressive, provocative acts and insist that same will not be tolerated.”
Senator Martin commended the Irish Government for issuing a much needed and forthright statement yesterday when Coveney described developments as “shocking and aggressive”.
Confrontation escalates
The confrontation between Israel and Hamas escalated again this evening as Israel unleashed new air strikes on Gaza while militants barraged Israel with hundreds of rockets.
The exchange killed a number of militants and civilians in Gaza and at least three Israelis.
The barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and air strikes into the territory continued almost non-stop throughout the day, in what appeared to be some of the most intense fighting between Israel and Hamas since their 2014 war.
The fire was so relentless that Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defence system seemed to be overwhelmed, while columns of smoke rose from many places in Gaza.
This evening, the violence extended to Tel Aviv, which came under fire from a barrage of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s transportation authority said it was closing the country’s main international airport near the city.
Hamas said it launched a total of 130 rockets, its most intense strike so far, in response to Israel’s destruction of a high-rise building in Gaza earlier in the evening.
The sound of the outgoing rockets could be heard in Gaza. As the rockets rose into the skies, mosques across Gaza blared with chants of “God is great”, “victory to Islam” and “resistance”.
Since sundown on Monday, 28 Palestinians — including 10 children and a woman — have been killed in Gaza, most by air strikes, health officials there said. The Israeli military said at least 16 of the dead were militants.
With reporting by Press Association.
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The Palestinian people need the international community to deliver more than words now. Israel should be placed under a military embargo and have sanctions imposed until it as a state starts to treat Palestinians as equals.
@#SaveSheikhJarrah #EndIsraeliApartheid: 20% OF the Israeli population is Arab, with full rights and the third biggest party in the Israeli Parliament..
@Victor Feldman: Palestinian citizens of sovereign Israel don’t have the same rights as Jewish citizens. For example Jews from all over the world have a right to be a sovereign Israeli citizen enjoying all its benefits even if they live in a settlement outside of Israel in the West Bank. However if sovereign Israeli Palestinian marries a Palestinian from the West Bank and want to live in in sovereign Israel, the West Bank Palestinian may get a temporary permit to live there but won’t get full citizenship and has no rights to social benefits. Do you think that is democratic where one sovereign Israeli can marry and their spouse gets full citizenship and the other can’t ?
@#SaveSheikhJarrah #EndIsraeliApartheid: Israel feel they can do what they like now they have the yanks backing. Shame on them
@#SaveSheikhJarrah #EndIsraeliApartheid: Unfortunately, the United Nations Security Council has at least one permanent member country which would veto any such action. And there are extremists on both sides, with civilians caught in between. Israel has to be held accountable, but it won’t be. If the situation were reversed, we would be condemning the Palestinians (and we know from history that their leadership can be as extreme). There are organisations like Jewish Voice For Peace who are trying to bring about change.
@Welk wrangler: ohhh I see what you did there… Story is about Jewish state so you throw in that word which was about extermination of Jewish people. Crikey doesn’t take much to bring out the anti Semitic crowd. Reported anyway.
@Tom Ripley: I’d recommend you pick up a history book, jews weren’t the only victims of n@zi Germany. Strange how Germany are now an exemplary and respected nation while Israel now have a disgraceful reputation for targeting and killing innocent civilians, including children.
@Tom Ripley: complete id1ot
@Brendan Barry: it’s not democratic and it’s devastating what’s going on and it seems like it’s just accepted. Unbelievable and unacceptable. Our hearts are reaching out to the Palestinian people who have been thrown out of their land and community by the Jewish society who are disillusioned and believe they’re God’s chosen people. Absolutely disillusioned!!
@Great White Hope: couldn’t agree more.
@Daniel Finucane: second that!
@#SaveSheikhJarrah #EndIsraeliApartheid: Israel and the ‘Untied’ states of America are possibly the greatest scourge on earth.
@BradysASAccount: Wow, your swastika is showing there..
Boycott israeli goods.
@Welk wrangler: yawn.
@Tom Ripley: i do not buy anything from this stolen country.
@Welk wrangler: Bring back the star and Boycott
It is utterly shocking to hear a prime minister who just killed 9 children, bragging about how he is going to up escalate hostility. This is supposedly a civilised nation
@Tom Ripley: what a disgusting comment. Any time this disgraceful nation targets and kills innocent Palestinian children you lot claim they were used as shields.
@Tom Ripley: ^ Another zionist hasbara troll account thats suspended on twitter
@The Risen: he is a very sad little troll indeed.
@The Risen: Zionist, oh please… Lad I’m Irish and realised. Solidarity with Israel.
@Welk wrangler: notice that most people on here don’t respond to him. He’s best to troll away on his own.
@Tom Ripley: Ok so you’re an id1ot
@Tom Ripley: Nothing showing any evidence of this no?
@Dave: showing evidence of ? Well I saw evidence of rocket attacks on Israel and their response too. Gas how I don’t see people condemning hamas. 1/4 of their rockets fell onto their own territory and how many they kill? Who cares the Jew didn’t do that is it?
@Tom Ripley: pr1ck
@Tom Ripley: please distinguish between what the State of Israel does and all Jewish people. There are Jews who know what Israel is doing is apartheid, and they oppose it. Unfortunately propagandists have managed to convince people that speaking out against the actions of Israel is the same as being anti-semitic, it is not. There is nothing anti-semitic about condemning the murder of children and civilians, theft of property and discriminatory, apartheid laws in a so-called modern democracy.
@Noirin Kavanagh: Oh – but that it were a so-called modern democracy or even a pale shadow of an aged democracy but it is neither. It is a State described by its own leading Human Rights organization, Btselem as being an apartheid State while Human Rights Watch has just published a 200+ page Report which clearly and unequivocally states that it IS an apartheid State.
@Michael Rossney: perhaps if the Hamas’s led govt didn’t have their headquarters and offices in communal buildings ( apartment, office blocks , becide schools etc ) and didn’t start sending rockets indiscriminately into Israel to provoke retaliation Israel wouldnt retaliate, Hama know how the world react….
Isreal should be treated like South Africa was during the Apartheid era and full international sanctions imposed on it.
Disappointed that Joe Biden, and his party colleagues haven’t condemned this bombing yet on innocent citizens and children from Gaza. About he took the lead in condemnation along with the United nations too.
@C_O’S: AOC and Sanders have condemned them.
@C_O’S: Biden has a history of staunch support of Israelis. Their murderous regime won’t be challenged on his watch.
They’ll definitely listen to Coveney. !
@Tony O Neill: I guess at least it’s being said now: there was a time when even condemnation was viewed as a step too far.
I just simply dont understand why Irealnd just cant expel the IDF Ambassador from Ireland – now that night get some reaction and give Ireland some respect back on the International Scene from the world community
@Brian Purcell: Murderous regimes like Israel and Saudi are allies of the US, the EU and the UK. They are huge arms purchasers. They can pretty much do as they like. Ireland is led by the nose by this trio and will fall in line.
@Brian Purcell: why would we expel an ambo? Protecting themselves from terrorist attack.
It is utterly mind-bending to hear a prime minister who just executes 9 children, bragging about how he is going to up escalate hostility!
Oh yeah, like they’re going to listen to Coveney and just end a century long war in the area.
The MOST proactive thing our politicians can do is hit Israel with hefty sanctions. Embargo them, hit them where it hurts. I know Israel is the 51st state and all and our powers love our American friends so much and don’t want to annoy them, but the typical politician jargon of coming out and condemning them is wearing very thin. Such a cliche.
Ireland and the UN have to speak out about Israeli aggression and stop the eviction of Palestian people.
Murde_r and genocid_e, pure and simple. Ireland should boycott all Israeli products and cutting off diplomatic relationship while the Israeli Government carry out these massacr_es.
@Richard Fitzsimons: hi Richard. Cool. Yeah I remember how you called on cutting of of diplomatic relations when China tortured and imprisoned uighurs or when Russia invaded Ukraine… Oh wait.
@Tom Ripley: Deflection doesn’t dismiss his point. This article is about Israel, not China or Russia. Pointing at other countries doesn’t give the occupiers an excuse to commit war crimes
@HectorPickaxe: yeah I’m just pointing out the anti semitism that’s prevalent in ireland. I recall protest after protest outside Israels embassy. Never seen any outside Chinese or Russian. Ain’t about deflection it’s about hypocrisy.
@Tom Ripley: Anti-israel doesn’t mean anti-semitic. Calling anti-semitism is a weak response to my condemnation of war crimes and is just deflection yet again
@HectorPickaxe: Actually it’s the response that I would expect from an apologist without a leg to stand on, yet again in this case
@HectorPickaxe: anti Semite says I’m not anti Semitic. Rolls eyes..
@Tom Ripley: and what names do you call the members of Na’amod, Jewish Voice for Peace and the many, many other Jewish organisations opposed to Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem? Do you call these Jews anti-Semitic too?
Fifty’s usually the number of Palestinians the Israelis kill for each Israeli citizen killed by Hamas. They’ve a bit to go yet
That’ll show ‘em, Simon
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2021/5/11/in-pictures-israeli-airstrikes-on-gaza-strip
The above link puts everything into context – no sugar coating,no mealy words just awful photos
@Nigel Barlow: I note there are no photos of Palestinian rocket fire or are you saying they didn’t fire first ? Israel fire was aimed at Hamas’s rocket bases if they insist on placing them office blocks and becide schools that is not Israel’s fault….
@Peter donnelly: If that’s the case, then go in with a ground force and root them out. You can not in any way defend dropping bombs into a highly populated urban are because there are some terrorists there among everyone else.
You would be singing a different tune if the RAF were bombing half of Belfast in the 70s from the air because there was some IRA members there somewhere (as well as thousands of innocent civilians)
Using your logic, Israel know that innocent people are being used as human shields, but they drop bombs into populated areas anyway. Is that the best/reasonable approach here do you reckon? Id imagine those being used as human shields eg families and kids would likely prefer they were not bein used in that way.
Extrapolating your statement above into another example… A terrorist takes a bus full of school children hostage and is using them as a human shield. Response – lets blow up the bus. Sure, we will likely kill a bunch of children but hey at least we got the terrorist!
Cut off diplomatic relations and any trade agreements with Israel.
Murder and genocide should always be shunned and products from all countries / companies that behave thus …. should not be purchased. UK , USA , Israel ( how far do we go back …..) Germany , Spain , Belgium, Portugal, Russia / CCCP , Serbia , Turkey , UAE , Australia , Rwanda , Syria etc etc etc. Maybe we should just support local… hmmm. Oh wait we’re an evil species…… love thy self , love thy neighbour…
Wheres the great Joe b
Did he say anything to Hamas about launching rockets at Israel? What do they expect?
Deport the illegitimate person.
The UN =United Nottings has a great history of stopping conflict since it’s inception in 1945
have your say