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Irish Examiner
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: I hope the 'Irish Examiner' continues to ask the hard questions
'The whole world should be reporting what they have learned up to this point. The whole world owes the journalists and people that documented and appealed to stop a war mongering regime.' Those were the words of US-born Palestinian writer Mariam Barghouti in Elaine Loughlin's searing analysis on where the world now stands on Gaza ('Do you ever wonder why you're not seeing as many reports from Gaza?'). Whether it is Louis Theroux's shocking BBC documentary, The Settlers, on the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank or last year's Oscar-winning film No Other Land, Israel is unquestionably a pariah state. The Irish Examiner rightly asks: What more can be done by Ireland and the international community to try and bring a stop to the murderous campaign of vengeance on defenceless people in the ever dwindling Gaza strip? Why not doorstep Bono or even Bob Geldof, who have been noticeably silent on the massacre unfolding before our eyes? Or the Tipperary brothers, the multi-billionaire Collinsons — one of whom posted on social media recently: 'Great to be back in Tel Aviv.' I hope the Irish Examiner continues to ask the hard questions — not just of our politicians, but also the celebrities and industrialists who are complicit in the horrors of Gaza and the West Bank through their silence and inactions. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Shame on the hypocrites We sadly live in a world of twisted values where, on one hand, we can rightly celebrate and recognise the sacrifice of those who fought to liberate Europe 80 years ago from the Nazis and, at the same time, we witness the hypocrisy of the US, Britain, the EU, and Nato as they continue to shamelessly arm, finance, and collaborate with the belligerent Israeli occupiers of Palestine. Shame on them all with their entitled mindset and their double speak on freedom and democracy, as they deny life and liberty to the Palestinians while giving political cover to Israel — which continues to control and deny access to the free press who would expose their ghastly lies and war crimes. In every country, all free peoples must act to liberate the Palestinians by righteous actions — including: Challenge the narrative which portrays an apartheid Israeli state as a normal democracy and allows them to promote their lies and propaganda; Seek the truth from reliable sources such as the UN, Amnesty International, Israeli human rights groups, and independent news media; Demand a referendum on sanctions if our political leaders do not act to cut all political, economic, and travel links with the Israeli regime; The UN should remove Israel from the assembly and proscribe their military as a brutal terrorist organisation; Boycott Israeli goods; Support the banning of all Israeli football and sporting fixtures at international events in freedom-loving nations; Remove Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest until they respect international laws; Church leaders of all dominations should use their moral authority to challenge the active support of members of their congregations for the extremes of Israel's ultra-nationalists; Provide financial support to NGOs and the UN — who supply humanitarian aid to the suffering, trapped, and starving people of Palestine. Michael Hagan, Dunmurry, Co Antrim Challenge to ban The New Zealand government is looking to ban social media access for people under the age of 16 by 2026. This will come as a great surprise for them as they probably don't read newspapers and social media sites might not publicise their own partial demise. A number of countries are working on restricting access to social media, but with little success so far. Banning anything is difficult given the freedoms most countries promote and protect. Banning social media will be more difficult given some — probably most — will lie or cheat to maintain their youthful drug of addition, likes, and followers. Social media has broadened to include dangerous Instagram challenges and videos of the consequences. Any technological bypass will be sent around the world before their parents can finish a nice cup of tea. Social media, once the realm of cat videos and family photos, has broadened to include dangerous Instagram challenges and videos of the consequences. It has great potential — as did nuclear power, although the ex-citizens of Chernobyl might see a different future. Rather than ban, Governments should monitor, clean, and promote the positive while punishing the negative. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia Dying at home End-of-life care can make a huge difference to those in their last months of life. Recent research from the Irish Hospice Foundation tells us that more than seven out of 10 Irish people would wish to die in their own home. However, we learn that getting access to palliative care at home or to hospice care can sometimes be difficult . I was emboldened to glean that the Irish Hospice Foundation is now hoping to address the gaps in home care in their strategy, Dying well at home, over the next five years. We have a growing population in Ireland and, over the next two decades, we will see an increase in Irish deaths. It would be true to say that not everybody will require specialist palliative care. This is where the role of other healthcare and social care professionals will kick in. I applaud the Irish Hospice Foundation in highlighting this emotive subject. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Leo's teachings The election of a relatively unknown cardinal, Robert F Prevost, to the papacy has catapulted another Augustinian to world fame. History will judge if his pontificate is to be as influential as the actions of two other Augustinian friars: Martin Luther — much influenced by St Augustine, who spearheaded the Reformation — and Gregor Mendel — who in his monastic garden, experimenting on peas, laid the foundation for the science of genetics. It may also be noteworthy that Leo XIII (died 1903) lived into his 94th year — successor to Pius IX (died 1878), who reigned for 32 years — the record to date. Of further interest is that this Leo, in 1892, appointed the first apostolic delegate to the US. Pope Leo XIV. Picture: Alessandra Tarantino/AP This was followed in 1899, however, by his censuring of 'Americanism' — which sought to adapt Catholicism to contemporary ideas and practices. When, on May 8, cardinal Prevost accepted his nomination as pope, he was doubtless aware of these considerations — in addition to having probably anticipated the somewhat exaggerated plaudits now directed at his predecessor's most famous encyclical (he devoted 11 to the Virgin Mary), Rerum novarum. Leo XIII also supported the study of the natural sciences and said that Catholic historians should write objectively about topics. These initiatives continue to be relevant in a world plagued by 'alternative realities', as the new pope will surely appreciate. Peter Keenan, Kinsale, Co Cork Pledge to reform The new Pope, Leo XIV, promises to follow in the reforming steps of the late Pope Francis. It is reliably reported that at a pre-conclave meeting of the assembled cardinals in Rome, it was agreed that clerical sex abuse must be one of the first challenges to be faced by of the incoming pope. From his time as Bishop of Sufar and apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, and as a Peruvian citizen he must be painfully aware of the controversy of clerical abuse and its fallout that continues unabated in Peru. Indeed the scandal of sexual abuse followed him to Rome in the person of Cardinal Cipriani, former Archbishop of Lima, and a member of the traditionalist Opus Dei organisation who has been accused of sexual abuse — a crime of which he declares he is innocent. Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Lima, but imposed several penal restrictions on him — which he has largely ignored —including the wearing of the distinctive red robes and the associated regalia of a cardinal. In spite of this prohibition, he attended pre-conclave meetings and public events in the Vatican in his cardinal attire. This is just one example of the serious challenges that Pope Leo faces. Hopefully, he will confront them with courage and tenacity. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Elaine Loughlin: Do you wonder why you're not seeing reports from Gaza?
"Do you realise that there is less news and footage coming out of Gaza? 'That's because the journalists have either been killed or wounded. The ones that are alive are either severely ill or too starved to manage any energy beyond the attempt to secure food and water. 'This is what Israel wanted when they declared a war of attrition back in November 2023. 'The whole world should be reporting what they have learned up to this point. The whole world owes the journalists and people that documented and appealed to stop a warmongering regime.' These are not my words, but those of American-born Palestinian writer and commentator Mariam Barghouti — which I read while trying to find the right words for this column. After more than 18 months, there are no descriptions graphic enough; no warnings from humanitarian organisations on the ground that can encompass the sustained brutalities; no new angles for the international media who have been blocked from accessing the strip to witness the full scale of destruction. Genocide has become normalised. Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis on the Gaza Strip on Monday. Today, the world is now standing by as Israel announces its intention to seize the enclave, take control over aid and force more than two million Palestinian civilians into a small area in the ruins of the south. Photo: AP/Abdel Kareem Hana The horror statistics of bombings, amputations, forced displacement, and death pile up one on top of another — bodies upon bodies — losing meaning and impact. When reporters become bereft of words, the most powerful tools at our disposal, it is easy to despair. But at this point — when Israel has put the world on notice that it intends to expand on the list of war crimes it has already committed — politicians, the media, and the public must not tune out. In the early months of Benjamin Netanyahu's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the daily death toll was widely reported and easily available through a simple Google search. However, as the lives lost have climbed into the thousands and the tens of thousands, reporting has become more sporadic. Mothers, daughters, sons, friends, and parents are dehumanised in death as they are added to an overall number. The stories of these lives lost are not being told because journalists are not being given permission to enter Gaza, while our Palestinian colleagues are being killed as they heroically go about their work. Journalist killings Shortly after lunch on Wednesday of this week, freelance reporter Yahya Sobeih headed to the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City — where the Israeli army had just bombed a popular restaurant in a crowded market area. Before leaving, he shared a photo on social media cradling his newborn daughter after becoming a father. When he arrived at the restaurant to record the attack, a second Israeli airstrike hit and killed him. Journalist Yahya Sobeih was killed in the Israeli strike on the Thai restaurant and the market west of central Gaza City. The incident bore all the hallmarks of what is known as a 'double-tap strike', when a second attack on the same location is delayed long enough for responders to flood into the area. 'Enough! Words fail to convey the endless nightmare faced by journalists in Gaza. Yahya Sobeih was torn from his profession and his family by a bomb from the Israeli armed forces,' Reporters Without Borders director general Thibaut Bruttin said afterwards. 'The impunity for crimes committed against these reporters cannot be tolerated, yet the international community continues to fail each day to force Israel to protect Palestinian journalists.' Sobeih's name has been added to the list of reporters killed. He is a statistic, but he was also a father to a daughter who now will never know him. Yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists' preliminary investigations showed at least 178 journalists and media workers were among the tens of thousands killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon since the war began, making it the deadliest period for journalists since the committee began gathering data in 1992. The committee is also investigating more than 130 additional cases of potential killings, arrests, and injuries, but many are difficult to document given the restrictions imposed on external observers. Programme director, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, said in New York this week: Every time a journalist is killed, injured, arrested, or forced to go to exile, we lose fragments of the truth. 'Those responsible for these casualties face dual trials: One under international law, and another before history's unforgiving gaze.' 'Genocidal' It is now 15 months since Taoiseach Micheál Martin raised the alarm around the lack of information getting out of Gaza, stating that he feared the world does not yet know the 'extent of the horrors' being carried out by Israel. His words came at a time when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had raided Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning health facility in the Palestinian enclave. Footage showed chaos, shouting, and gunfire in dark corridors filled with dust and smoke. By last month, an Israeli air raid had left the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza non-operational — forcing critically ill patients onto the streets. It is six months since the Taoiseach told my colleague, Paul Hosford, that Israel's actions were 'genocidal'. Today, the world is now standing by as Israel announces its intention to seize the enclave, take control over aid — which has been blocked from entering since March — and force more than two million Palestinian civilians into a small area in the ruins of the south. In the Dáil, Tánaiste Simon Harris admitted: 'Israel is not listening. Nothing that has happened to date has changed the situation here in terms of Israel actually showing restraint, or issuing statements calling for restraint, when there is a government in Israel that plans doing the exact opposite.' International reaction But words and actions do have impact, even if the situation can feel hopeless. This week, in the British House of Commons, Conservative MP Mark Pritchard — a strong supporter of Israel for decades — broke ranks with his party. 'I've been in this House 20 years. I have supported Israel pretty much at all costs quite frankly. But today, I want to say that I got it wrong and I condemn Israel for what it is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza — and indeed in the West Bank — and I'd like to withdraw my support right now for the actions of Israel.' A small but growing number of Tory members have also come out against official party policy to call for an immediate recognition of the Palestinian state. The international reaction to Israel's war crimes has been too slow. It has allowed for the continued denial of basic medical and humanitarian aid, the forced starvation of a people who were already living in an open air prison for many years, and the targeted murder of civilians and aid workers. We cannot give up Despite being restricted in our ability to fully report on what is going on, we in the media cannot give up. As futile as our reporting may feel, we must not give up. The Irish Examiner has sent reporters to Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan. It has repeatedly spoken to doctors and aid workers on the ground — including UNRWA's senior deputy director John Whyte, who is a guest on The Mick Clifford Podcast this week. This paper has used its front page and social media to platform powerful images from Gaza. It's not enough, but it's something the Irish Examiner will continue to do. In her social media post, Barghouti reminded her hundreds of thousands of followers that Palestinians have said again and again: 'Do it not for us, but for you.' 'Do it because what you see happening to us will be exported to you. I am telling you, actually, do it for us,' she wrote. 'Even if this violence is not exported to you, just do it because it's the right thing to do.'
