Letters: In this hopeful month for children, slaughter in the Holy Lands sadly persists

Irish Independent

26-05-2025

Isn't it therefore a sobering thought that on the other side of the world in the Holy Lands, children are suffering unbearably.
Literal war is being waged on their unqualified right to joy, their absolute right to hope. The fear of bombardment and food shortages plagues the children of Palestine. The terror of missile strikes and other attacks plagues the children of Israel. The fear of further conflict plagues the children of Lebanon and Syria.
Isn't it a terrible irony that such conflict should occur in a region synonymous with the gentle phrase 'peace be with you'?
Isn't it a terrible irony that such terror should arise in the region where Jesus the peacemaker was born? And isn't it a terrible, terrible irony that such unbounded darkness should consume this hopeful month of May?
All children, regardless of identity, deserve peace. They deserve joy. They deserve hope.
I appreciate our Government's work to address this tragic situation.
Let us all hope that they and their partners will continue to work for peace and justice in the Holy Lands, so that children may have peace, joy and hope.
Tadhg Mulvey, Trim, Co Meath
More must be done to end the genocide of so many young in Gaza by the IDF
Why are our world leaders, with a few exceptions, standing shamefully aside when Israel is piling death, destruction and torturous hunger on innocent children in Gaza without purposeful condemnation and reaction?
The latest slaughter of nine of a doctor's children in Khan Younis is abominable. A doctor saving lives as her children are being destroyed because of the madness of men such as Israeli prim minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Hamas leaders.
We are very familiar with the slogan 'Free Palestine' but it is absolutely useless when genocide is at play.
We need to do better and 'Save the children of Gaza' for our own salvation.
Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
How many more mothers must bury their children before cruelty is halted?
Gaza is currently witnessing a mass slaughter.
At the weekend, a paediatrician lost nine of her children in Israeli bombardment on civilian homes.
Each story we hear from the Palestinian enclave is harrowing. The air is filled with helplessness, hopelessness and desperation.
There can be nothing worse than seeing your children wrapped in white shrouds, ready for burial.
How many Palestinian mothers need to mourn their children before the international community halts this cruel contempt of humanity?
Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London
Let's hope women's Gaelic games will have no more international ignominy
Footage from last Saturday's Senior Camogie Championship games indicate the 'harmonious implementation' of the new rule change pertaining to player dress code.
Interestingly, Reuters, one of the world's largest news agencies, which had been following the 'clash of the skorts and the shorts' all along, carried immediate news of the outcome of last Thursday's Camogie Associations Special Congress, headlined: 'Ireland's Camogie Association votes to allow players to wear shorts.'
Such an international 'profile' potentially added a further shade of crimson to an already embarrassing situation that was entirely avoidable.
It should be acknowledged, once player intent became obvious, that the issue was addressed reasonably expeditiously and especially so in the context of the traditional and sedentary character of the GAA and its 'powers that be'.
Let's hope that the ongoing, snail-paced, integration process between the GAA, the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) will not require another ignominious spectacle to get the process completed.
Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Kilkenny
It's only a matter of time before Trump backs down from his latest trade guff
US president Donald Trump has re-escalated his trade threats, targeting both imports from the entire European Union and hitting smartphone giant Apple, sending the global market into a state of turbulence after weeks of de-escalation had provided some reprieve.
Trump says he wants a 50pc tariff on EU goods from June 1. I am just wondering how long it will take him to back down if he does go ahead with these punitive tariffs.
When the Chinese stood up to Trump, it was noticeable how quickly he backed off. One could argue that Trump is flying this kite in order to manipulate the markets for his billionaire cronies before backing down.
John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Celebrities should do themselves and everyone else a favour by staying out of politics
It seems to me that far from being annoyed by 'celebrities' endorsing his opponents, Donald Trump should invite them to the White House for helping his re-election.
I can't think of anything more likely to turn people off than being lectured and talked down to by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bono and the usual suspects from Hollywood.
One would have to ask why was Bono interfering in the internal affairs of another country anyway?
Of course we get the usual appeals to freedom of expression. Fair enough. But freedom of expression is a two-way street. When Trump dares to exercise his, the self-righteous indignation of his adversaries rings hollow and is less than convincing.
As for the celebrities themselves, they ought to take the advice of eminent actor Anthony Hopkins. He scrupulously avoids revealing his political preferences on the basis that 'why I should I antagonise at least half of my audience?'