More than 350 lawyers and academics say Government not complying with international law obligations over Palestine crisis
A letter signed by more than 350 lawyers and academics has been sent to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste expressing 'deep concern' at the Government's 'continued failure' to take 'necessary steps to comply with its international legal obligations in relation to the crisis in Palestine'.
Without 'urgent and meaningful action' the State will continue to fail to meet its obligations under international law, the signatories claim.
'The daily atrocities in Gaza carry an appalling human toll and are being perpetrated by Israel in overt defiance of fundamental rules of international law and human rights,' states the letter, signed by barristers, solicitors and academics based in the Republic, Northern Ireland, England, Belgium and Australia.
Successive Irish governments 'have delayed and prevaricated' on the Occupied Territories Bill when there are no 'insurmountable legal obstacles' in either Irish, European or international law preventing the adoption of legislation prohibiting the import of goods and services produced in the unlawful Israeli settlements in the West Bank, it states.
READ MORE
This is 'the absolute minimum' required from the State to comply with its international legal obligations and the holdings of the International Court of Justice, the letter states.
The signatories call on the Government to act urgently to adopt the necessary domestic legislation to give effect to its international obligations arising as a result of what they say is Israel's unlawful presence in Palestine and 'continued commission of severe breaches of international law'.
Any existing legal advice on proposed legislation should be published in full, it states.
The Government's obligations under international law also require it to act to ensure the EU and other international organisations of which it is a member 'do not render aid or assistance to the unlawful actions of Israel'.
The Republic must press with 'even greater urgency' to ensure the EU-Israel Association Agreement is reviewed and necessary action is taken , it states.
The letter demands that the Government reviews and reports on existing trade and economic relations with Israel, including the issuing of bonds by the Irish Central Bank, to ensure these 'do not contribute to recognising, aiding or assisting the unlawful situation created by the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories'.
The State is urged to provide 'enhanced support' to relevant international institutions, in particular those facing attacks and sanctions, such as the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
'The persistent violations of human rights, repeated atrocities and denial of the self-determination of the Palestinian people require concerted efforts by all States at the domestic, regional and international level,' the academics say.
The many academic signatories include professors Shane Darcy, of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway; Conor O'Mahony, School of Law, University College Cork; and Siobhán Wills, director of the Transitional Justice Institute of Ulster University.
Other signatories include Eilis Barry, chief executive of the Free Legal Advice Centres and barrister and Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
22 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Gaza aid ship with Greta Thunberg on board rescues four refugees from Mediterranean
The crew of a boat carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has rescued four people who jumped from a sinking inflatable raft in the Central Mediterranean. The Madleen's voyage has been launched by the international non-profit Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). The vessel changed course off the coast of Crete on Thursday following a distress call from Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, about the deflating raft. Crew members said the raft was carrying 30-40 Sudanese people fleeing refugee camps in Libya. After contacting Greek and Egyptian authorities, the Madleen was advised to intervene. As a Libyan coast guard vessel approached, four people on the boat jumped overboard to avoid capture. Migrants in Libyan detention centres face human rights abuses. The four people were taken aboard the Madleen, whose crew has contacted search and rescue non-governmental agencies and urged Greece, Malta and Italy to organise the transfer of the Sudanese people to Europe. READ MORE The FFC has said the Madleen will continue its mission despite Israel saying it could intercept the vessel. In a video posted on X, Brazilian crew member Thiago Avila said the intention is to 'break the siege of Gaza and create a people's humanitarian sea corridor.' The boat, named after Madleen Kulab, Gaza's only fisherwoman, set sail from Sicily seven days ago. Those on board include Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan. They are joined by activists from Germany, Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands. The Israeli military has said it is 'enforcing the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip' and is 'prepared and ready for a wide range of scenarios'. Interviewed by Al-Jazeera during the journey, Thunberg said they will resist peacefully if boarded or diverted. Israel's broadcasting authority has said the ship could be forced to turn back or escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where its crew would face arrest. [ International aid ship en route to Gaza will be stopped, warns Israeli military Opens in new window ] Another FFC vessel, the Conscience, was struck by drones in May and limped into port in Malta. The FFC blamed Israel for the attack. Prof John Dugard, a former judge at the International Court of Justice, said in an interview with FFC that 'to justify action in self-defence, Israel has to satisfy the international community that it has been subjected to an attack. And no one can describe the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as an attack.' The UN warned on Thursday that Israeli restrictions have left the people of Gaza 'vulnerable to starvation' with daily consumption only 67 per cent of the amount needed for survival.
Irish Times
35 minutes ago
- Irish Times
International Criminal Court comes out fighting in wake of US sanctions
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has described sanctions imposed by the US as 'a clear attempt to undermine its judicial independence'. Within hours of the announcement on Thursday evening, the European Union came out strongly in support of the court, praising it as 'a cornerstone of international justice' whose independence and integrity must be protected.' In a post on X, European Council president Antonio Costa wrote: 'The ICC does not stand against nations, it stands against impunity. The rule of law most prevail over the rule of power.' The sanctions were imposed by US secretary of state Marco Rubio on four judges for what he called 'illegitimate actions' targeting the United States and Israel. READ MORE The judges were named as Beti Hohler of Slovenia, Luz de Carmen Ibānez Carranza of Peru, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin. Hohler and Alapini-Gansou were two of the judges who authorised the ICC arrest warrants for Israeli premier, Binyamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, accused of war crimes in Gaza following the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7th, 2023. Bossa and Ibāñez Carranza were involved in authorising an ICC investigation into alleged abuses by US troops and CIA officials in Afghanistan. 'As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC's illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel', Rubio alleged. 'The ICC is politicised and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge and prosecute nationals of the United States and our allies.' Such assertions, he said, were 'dangerous' and infringed upon 'the sovereignty and national security of the United States'. In February the US also imposed sanctions on ICC prosecutor Karim Khan for his role in pursuing the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. It froze his bank accounts, left him without email, and barred him from entering the US or doing business with US companies or agencies. The latest sanctions on the judges were imposed under the same executive order signed by President Trump. As a result of that order, Americans who work for the court in The Hague have been warned they could face arrest if they return home. The International Federation of Human Rights representative to the ICC, Danya Chaikel, noted that the sanctions being employed were originally designed to 'disrupt terrorist networks, weapons traffickers and human rights abusers – not international justice institutions'. Neither the US nor Israel is a member of the ICC and they do not recognise the court's jurisdiction. In an unrelated development, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan took leave of absence last month pending an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
President criticises UK arms investment and US's ‘monstrous attacks' on universities
President Michael D Higgins has called on the United Nations General Assembly to use 'exceptional powers' to 'move past' the impasse at the organisation's Security Council to enable the flow of aid to Gaza. Mr Higgins also criticised a £1.5 billion arms investment, announced earlier this week by UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Mr Higgins claimed the move will 'make drones 10 times more lethal'. He was speaking at the University of Galway to mark the donation of his presidential archive and collection of books to the college. Speaking in the newly renamed Michael D Higgins Auditorium, the President criticised the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli and US-backed organisation, which has distributed a limited amount of aid in southern Gaza this week. The GHF has been heavily criticised by world figures for politicising the distribution of aid. READ MORE Aid distribution at GHF centres was paused earlier this week following a number of incidents where Israeli soldiers are reported to have fired on people seeking food. 'The entity that is in place [the GHF], and has been described as one that will distribute aid to the people of Gaza, is not acceptable to any of the United Nations agencies,' Mr Higgins said. He said it is 'essential' that food is distributed through non-militarised means. 'What is most important now, is that next week when the General Assembly [of the UN] meets, it uses the exceptional powers that it has to actually act. It has the power to move past the Security Council,' he said. Turning to the UK's arms investment announcement, he said it is 'not moral to be silent' in the current political climate. UK defence secretary John Healey told MPs on Monday that the £1.5 billion investment would make the British army '10 times more lethal'. [ Britain to move closer to 'warfighting readiness' as review calls for defence overhaul Opens in new window ] 'The prime minister next door [Keir Starmer] says: 'We are going to produce drones that are 10 times more lethal.' Think of the morality of that statement,' said Mr Higgins. 'It is necessary to say that we are not going to retreat from new versions of ecological responsibility, social justice and equality,' he said. The president said 'monstrous attacks' are being made against third-level institutions, especially in the United States. He said we are living in the 'worst period' for 'ignorant, ill-informed bullying', with universities put 'under the greatest pressure internationally, but in particular in the United States where they have had monstrous attacks on them', he said. Mr Higgins is a former lecturer and president of the students' union at the University of Galway. He confirmed he intends to return to living in Galway when his presidential term ends.
