Latest news with #GenocideConvention
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach defends Govt action over situation in Gaza
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended Government's actions over the situation in Gaza and has told protesters who say Ireland has not gone far enough, to "go and ask the Palestinian Authority, ask the Palestinian people". Speaking to reporters at an event in Galway this afternoon, during which a pro-Palestine protest took place outside, the Taoiseach was asked for his response to their calls for Ireland to do more. In response, Mr Martin said, "My comments are in the Dáil during the week." "I take issue with people who are trying to cause division in the country on this issue, the Irish Government has led from the front in respect of the Middle East," he added. "In respect of Gaza, I would say to the protesters go and ask the Palestinian Authority, go and ask Palestinian people around the world, go and ask people in the Middle East, in Egypt and Jordan. "They will tell you how they believe the Irish Government has been leading for justice and fairness and also trying to get other countries to come on board in respect of trying to get a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and also a massive surge in humanitarian aid," Mr Martin said. The Taoiseach continued that while he believes "people have a right to protest", in his view "democracy in Ireland is alive and well" and that people organising events "should be allowed to do their business as well". "I will not be deterred from doing what we are doing in Government, we've done a lot, a lot of people acknowledge that," he said. Mr Martin then addressed what he said is "the real issue, the Israeli government" which he said "has been acting in an appalling manner in my view". "There are elements in that government [the Israeli government] who have been very clear in articulating a desire to destroy Gaza in its entirety. "Ireland has intervened in the case before the International Court of Justice, on the South Africa case, before that the Genocide Convention, so at every international level we have intervened for fairness, justice and in line with the United Nations Charter, and will continue to do that," he added. Asked for his views on the situation in Gaza and for the Palestinian people who are living there, the Taoiseach added, "It's shocking the degree to which people are being starved in Gaza, the blockade was absolutely unacceptable and continues to be unacceptable. "It is a violation, a war crime to deny people, in particular children, the very basic necessities of life. "I can't comprehend how any government can preside over that," he added. Mr Martin said "the international community needs to get together and put as much pressure as possible on Israel to stop this," adding that this includes measures in relation to the EU-Israel trade agreement. The Taoiseach said he wants an "agreement to suspend that", saying, "that will be challenging and difficult, but Ireland will push for that."
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
'Ramaphosa violating Genocide Convention on'Kill the Boer'
Ramaphosa said that 'Kill The Boer' is a 'liberation chant' and should not be taken literally. Lobby group AfriForum claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa's 'refusal' to condemn the chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' reflects double standards. Ramaphosa on Tuesday said that 'Kill The Boer' is a 'liberation chant' and should not be taken literally. It came a week after US President Donald Trump confronted the South African president by playing videos of EFF leader Julius Malema chanting 'Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer,' using them to support his unfounded claim of genocide against whites in South Africa. In response, AfriForum argued that the ANC-led government's defence of the slogan, while passing judgment on similar rhetoric elsewhere in the world, highlighted inconsistencies in its interpretation of the United Nations' Genocide Convention. 'Double standards' The lobby group based its statement on evidence presented by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, a member of South Africa's legal team, who led the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January 2024. 'Ngcukaitobi argued that 'the intentional failure of the government of Israel to condemn, prevent and punish such genocidal incitement constitutes in itself a grave violation of the Genocide Convention,'' the lobby group said. 'Ngcukaitobi further argued that 'this failure to condemn, prevent and punish such speech by the government has served to normalise genocidal rhetoric' and has posed 'extreme danger for Palestinians within Israeli society,'' AfriForum said. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel described this as a case of 'double standard'. 'The ANC-led government's defence of the 'Kill the Boer' slogan, while passing judgment about similar calls elsewhere in the world as an intent to commit genocide, is evidence of double standards in their interpretation of the Genocide Convention. Kriel pointed out that 'farm murder deniers' are trying 'very hard to downplay the serious nature of farm murders' after Trump's meeting with Ramaphosa. 'AfriForum has always focused on the serious nature of farm murders rather than engaging in semantic debates about the term 'genocide' but believes it has now become necessary to test the actions of Ramaphosa's government against their own standards regarding the meaning of genocide'. ALSO READ: Piers Morgan slams Ramaphosa for defending 'Kill the Boer' chant [VIDEO] AfriForum defeat In March, AfriForum suffered a final blow in its attempt to have the controversial chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' declared as hate speech. The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) delivered a brief ruling dismissing AfriForum's application for leave to appeal. The Apex concluded that the application 'bears no reasonable prospects of success'. ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Dim the lights' — Ramaphosa pokes fun at Trump meeting
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taoiseach accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza as protest held at Dail
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has issued his strongest condemnation of Israel yet as he accused it of committing 'genocide' in Gaza. He had previously resisted going this far, referring to what Israel was committing as 'genocidal actions'. Speaking in Croke Park on Wednesday, the Taoiseach once again called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and aid to enter Gaza. Mr Martin said: 'The Irish government has been particularly proactive in relation to the war in Gaza, a war that is a genocide at this stage, in particular, in terms of the attack on entire families. 'We've witnessed that recently with a family of nine children being massacred. It's a slaughter that must stop. 'Now, our view, and we have supported UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees] repeatedly and called for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. 'But, in addition to that, we believe what now would have the greatest impact would be if the European Union could collectively agree to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which relates to the economic relationship between Israel and the European Union. 'That would be challenging, but that would have real impact on the Israeli government.' Mr Martin also referred to Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide in the Dáil. In response to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, the Taoiseach stated the Government is 'hoping that we will broaden the criteria by which genocide is judged by the Genocide Convention'. During Leader's Questions, the Government was accused of a 'water-weak' position on why it is opposing legislation that aims to give Ireland the power to refuse its role in the sale of 'Israeli war bonds'. Mr Martin accused Sinn Féin of trying to 'drive a wedge' between the Irish public and the Government. The Central Bank of Ireland is the designated authority for the sale of Israel bonds in the EU. Israeli bonds have been advertised as supporting the country's economy, and more recently, websites promoting the bonds emphasise their role in supporting Israel's military operation in Gaza. The Central Bank is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus for the offer of securities is in compliance with the requirements of the EU Prospectus Regulation. The Government opposed the legislation as advice from the Attorney General suggests that key provisions may be unworkable and may conflict with EU Treaties and our obligations as a Member State. When the legislation was being debated on Tuesday evening, the Dáil had to be postponed as pro-Palestinian protestors started chanting and holding up banners from the Dáil public gallery. A large protest took place outside Leinster House throughout Wednesday, calling for the Occupied Territories Bill to be passed before the summer and for it to include services. During a debate on a Labour motion on Wednesday morning, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he is open to a conversation about including services. He said: 'I do not have a policy difference with people who want to include services. I want to make sure that the law does not fall at the first legal hurdle. 'I am happy to be challenged and to be proven wrong at the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee about this issue.'
Egypt Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Today
What Is Genocide? A Breakdown of the International Legal Definition
A Palestinian victim under rubble of a house destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza- Photo taken from Palestinian journalists' Telegram channels in Gaza CAIRO - 28 May 2025: In light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalating violence and starvation inflicted by the Israeli occupation—actions that flagrantly violate international laws, treaties, and conventions— egypt today finds it necessary to clarify the legal definition of genocide and the acts that constitute punishable offenses under international law. What Is the Genocide Convention? Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was the first human rights treaty established by the UN. It reflects the international community's commitment to preventing atrocities like genocide and ensuring accountability. The Convention offers the first legal definition of genocide and obligates all State Parties to prevent and punish such crimes. It is composed of 19 articles. Definition of Genocide As defined in Article II of the Convention, genocide refers to any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting living conditions intended to cause the group's physical destruction, in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures designed to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Punishable Acts Under the Genocide Convention Article III of the Convention outlines the following as punishable offenses: (a) Genocide; (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; (d) Attempt to commit genocide; (e) Complicity in genocide.
Days of Palestine
5 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
IOF Commits Massacre Against Starving Civilians at 'Aid Distribution Centers' in Rafah
DaysofPal – The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza has confirmed that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) committed a massacre targeting starving civilians gathered at so-called 'aid distribution centers' in Rafah, southern Gaza. The attack left 3 civilians dead, 46 injured, and 7 others missing. In an official statement, the Media Office described the attack as yet another crime in the long and bloody record of the occupation. Civilians had gathered in what the occupation refers to as 'buffer zones' to receive aid—desperately seeking food after enduring over 90 days of starvation due to the ongoing blockade. The IOF, stationed in or near these zones, opened live fire on the crowd, many of whom had been summoned under the promise of aid. The Office expressed deep concern that this pattern may be repeated, risking even more deaths, injuries, and disappearances. The statement described the event as a deliberate massacre and a full-fledged war crime, targeting civilians weakened by months of starvation and deprivation. With over 20 months of ongoing genocide, and near-total denial of food and medicine, the incident was framed as part of a larger strategy of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, openly admitted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials. The Media Office stressed the failure of the 'buffer zone' aid delivery model, citing field reports, Hebrew media coverage, and expert analysis. Heart-wrenching footage showed thousands of starving Palestinians storming the aid centers, only to be gunned down by IOF soldiers. 'This massacre is irrefutable evidence of the occupation's failure to manage the humanitarian disaster it has deliberately created,' the statement read. It pointed to a systematic policy of siege, starvation, bombardment, and destruction, which meets the criteria for genocide under Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention. The statement concluded: 'The creation of buffer ghettos and forced collection points amid threats of death and starvation does not represent humanitarian concern. It is instead a form of racist political engineering, designed to dismantle Palestinian society, deepen its suffering, and provide a façade of humanitarian legitimacy for the occupation's military and security agendas.' Shortlink for this post:
