Killing of Sligo based doctor's brother-in-law and family in Gaza condemned at council meeting
'The deliberate Israeli missile strike on their home can only be described as one of the most heartbreaking tragedies to befall a paediatrician who dedicated her life to saving children, only to have her own motherhood stolen from her in a moment of fire, death and destruction,' he said.
Cllr Bree further proposed that the Council also extend its sympathy to Dr Ali Al Najjar, who has looked after so many local people in Sligo University Hospital, on the deaths of his beloved nephews, nieces and brother in law
Cllr Bree added that the agony and heartbreak that Dr Alaa and her extended family feel today could only be imagined>
The UN's special rapporteur for the Palestinian territory described the attack as a 'new phase of genocide' facing Palestinians in the besieged enclave, he said.
'While offering our sympathy and solidarity we hope and pray that Dr al-Najjar's sole surviving child, 11-year-old Adam, who was severely injured, will receive the necessary medical treatment and survive. I would ask members, as a mark of respect to observe a minute's silence,' said Cllr Bree.
Meanwhile, speaking on a separate motion tabled by Cllrs Arthur Gibbons, Gino O'Boyle, Thomas Healy and himself, Cllr Bree said they must recognise that 'what is happening in Palestine and Gaza today is not a war; it is a campaign of starvation, destruction and ethnic cleansing. Palestinian men, women and children are being exterminated as the world looks on.'
He added that the Irish Central Bank is facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds, raising €4.5 billion for Israel's campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Following criticism the Central Bank recently wrote to the Dáil Finance Committee and said, for it to stop facilitating the sale of the bonds, it needed either the EU or the Dáil to intervene.
'It is just over a year ago since the Government recognised the State of Palestine, sending a message to the world that Ireland stands with the people of Palestine and Gaza.
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'However in the intervening period the Irish Central Bank has been facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds.
'Section 5A of the Central Bank Reform Act states: "The Bank is required to perform its functions and exercise its powers in a manner consistent with the Rome Treaty and the ESCB Statute."
'Article 3.5 of that Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union says: In its relations with the wider world, the Union shall uphold and promote its values and interests and contribute to the protection of its citizens. It shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter.
'In January of 2024 the International Court of Justice found that the Palestinian people in Gaza had "plausible rights" to be protected from the imminent risk of genocide.
'This ruling triggered obligations under the Genocide Convention for countries, including Ireland, to take all possible action to prevent genocide.
'So therefore enacting legislation and regulations to allow the Minister for Finance to prohibit or impose restrictive measures on the sale or purchase of any security or class of security that is issued by or on behalf of the state of Israel, would be in compliance with the Rome Treaty.
"The International court of Justice opinion clearly stated not only that we should act but that we have a legal obligation to act and to do absolutely everything that we can. It demands that every state look at every possible lever to exert pressure on Israel.
A motion which was tabled jointly by Councillors Gino O'Boyle, Arthur Gibbons, Thomas Healy and Cllr Bree called on the Government to introduce the necessary legislation and regulations, to allow the Minister for Finance to prohibit or impose restrictive measures on the sale or purchase of any security or class of securities that is issued by or on behalf of the State of Israel.
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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Israel studies Hamas offer to release hostages in exchange for ceasefire and release of prisoners
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The Journal
5 hours ago
- The Journal
Why has Sally Rooney been warned over supporting Palestine Action - and why did the UK ban it?
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Rooney, the author of novels including Normal People and Intermezzo hailing from Co Mayo, has indicated that she intends to use proceeds from her work to support Palestine Action, but has been warned she could face consequences. What did Rooney say, how has the UK government responded, and why did it ban Palestine Action in the first place? What did Sally Rooney say about Palestine Action? Writing in the Irish Times at the weekend, Rooney said that she supports Palestine Action and its protesting of Israel's violence against Palestine, and that she would use proceeds from her work to support the group. 'If this makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it,' Rooney said. 'My books, at least for now, are still published in Britain, and are widely available in bookshops and even supermarkets. In recent years the UK's state broadcaster has also televised two fine adaptations of my novels, and therefore regularly pays me residual fees,' she wrote. 'I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can. 'If the British state considers this 'terrorism', then perhaps it should investigate the shady organisations that continue to promote my work and fund my activities, such as WH Smith and the BBC.' She also criticised the Irish government for not standing with Irish activists arrested for supporting Palestine Action in the UK. Rooney has been an outspoken critic of Israel's war on Gaza and a supporter of freedom for Palestine. Advertisement Nearly two years since October 2023, Israel has around 62,000 people in Gaza, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and flattened countless homes and buildings. With Israel strictly limiting the amount of aid allowed in to Gaza, many people are now dying of starvation, including young children. How has the UK government responded to Rooney? A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was asked in Westminster about Rooney's comments. They would not comment on her remarks specifically but set out the position that there 'is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation, which is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest in support of a cause'. Asked what Downing Street's position is in relation to anyone considering making donations to Palestine Action, the spokesperson said: 'Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and obviously the police will, as they have set out, they will obviously implement the law within the law as you'd expect.' Why has the UK banned Palestine Action? Among countries in Europe, the UK has been one of Israel's staunchest allies, including through being an exporter of arms to Israel, though it has also recognised the scale of devastation Israel has created in Gaza. In June, British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the UK's Terrorism Act. It followed members of the group allegedly breaking into a military airfield and vandalising Royal Air Force (RAF) aircrafts. Announcing the decision to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation, Cooper said that Palestine Action's activity has 'increased in frequency and severity since the start of 2024 and its methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to use violence'. The UK's Terrorism Act makes it an offence for a person to belong to a proscribed organisation, to show or invite support for such an organisation, to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of it, or to arrange or manage a meeting that involves supporting the organisation, furthering its activities, or hearing from a member belonging to it. A person found guilty of an offence under the relevant legislation can face imprisonment or a fine, or both. The UK's decision has received criticism internationally. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said that by international standards, understandings of terrorist acts should be 'confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages, for purpose of intimidating a population or to compel a government to take a certain action or not'. 'It misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries to encompass further conduct that is already criminal under the law,' Türk said. Additional reporting by Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
5 hours ago
- Extra.ie
'Shameful indictment' as record number of aid workers killed
The daily reports of people being killed in wars have often reduced hundreds of people into being a horrifying statistic. However, beyond the headlines, there are the unsung heroes who laid their lives on the line to provide aid to the civilians of the likes of Gaza and Sudan. Tragically, a record number of aid workers were killed in 2024, with the United Nations reporting 383 deaths across the year. Israel has blocked aid from coming into Gaza. Pic: Eyad BABA / AFP via Getty Images The UN branded the figures and lack of accountability a 'shameful indictment' of international apathy. They also warned that this year's toll is equally horrifying. The UN revealed the figures on World Humanitarian Day, revealing that the 2024 toll is 31% higher than the year before. These aid workers exhausted themselves trying to help the war-torn people of the world and were ultimately killed for standing up for civilians. This year's tragic death count was surged upwards by Israel's bombardment of Gaza. The UN stated that 181 humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza and a further 60 were killed in Sudan. A record amount of aid workers died in 2024. Pic: Saeed M. M. T. Jaras/Anadolu via Getty Images They added that most of those killed were local staff serving their communities, and were either attacked in the line of duty or in their homes. Aside from the killings, 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 were kidnapped and 45 were detained in 2024. This year is looking no better, mainly in Gaza as Israel continue to gun down civilians. The UN said: 'Worryingly, there is no sign that the trend is slowing this year, with 265 aid workers killed as of 14 August this year, according to provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database.' From her base in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, Olga Cherevko from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that exhausted aid workers continue to show up for work 'day in and day out'. Olga emphasized the commitment of her Palestinian colleagues over the last two years, mainly 'the doctors, the nurses, aid workers – many of whom have lost everything and several times over'. Other nations have attempted to drop aid into Gaza. Pic: Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images She also highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire and a permanent end to the attacks. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said: 'Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve. 'Attacks on this scale, with zero accountability, are a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy. 'As the humanitarian community, we demand – again – that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account.' The UN reiterated that attacks on aid workers and operations violate international humanitarian law and damage the lifelines sustaining millions of people trapped in war and disaster zones. Tom Fletcher added: 'Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end.' Israeli attack destroys UN-run School in Central Gaza. Pic: by Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images Meanwhile, the UN's World Health Organization said it had verified more than 800 attacks on health care in 16 territories so far this year, with more than 1,110 health workers and patients killed, along with hundreds more injured. The WHO stated: 'Each attack inflicts lasting harm, deprives entire communities of life-saving care when they need it the most, endangers health care providers, and weakens already strained health systems.' The aid workers in Gaza have been feeling helpless as Israel blocked the passage of humanitarian aid into the territory, starving millions of people. Israel has been restricting food, fuel and medical supplies from coming into Gaza while Palestinians are being starved to death. Olga Cherevko reflected on the nature of humanitarian work and the feeling of helplessness in Gaza. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Pic: AFP via Getty Images She said: 'I think as a humanitarian, I feel powerless sometimes in Gaza because I know what it is that we can do as humanitarians when we're unable to do so, both here in Gaza and in any other humanitarian crisis. 'The fact that we continue to face massive impediments for delivering aid at scale, when our missions are delayed, when our missions lasted 12, 14, 18 hours; the routes that we're given are dangerous, impassible or inaccessible. 'Everyone's still showing up (to work), but courage alone and commitment alone isn't going to feed people, isn't going to save people. 'What we need is, again, a permanent ceasefire. We need political solutions to this conflict and a resolution to this crisis.' World Humanitarian Day marks the day in 2003 when UN rights chief Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other humanitarians were killed in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
