Permanent ceasefire in Gaza needed now
Labour’s Senator Rebecca Moynihan today again called for an coordinated effort by the international community to focus on a ceasefire in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid in to get to the millions of innocent civilians who are suffering from mass starvation.
Senator Moynihan said:
“The ongoing conflict in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy that demands real and immediate action from the international community who have for the last 5 months allowed Israel to act without consequences while they have bombed, killed and starved civilians in the Gaza strip.
“The loss of innocent lives, particularly children and civilians, is deeply distressing and unacceptable. We must put an end to the violence that has plagued the region for far too long.
“Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and we call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians in the region. It is imperative that we work together with our EU counterparts to put pressure on Israel to halt the killing of civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need. Watching the scenes where desperate people were targeted by Israel for trying to get food for their families is a scar on us all. Targeting civilians accessing aid and using mass starvation as a weapon is a war crime.
“An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must continue to voice the horror and dismay of the Irish people and give a rallying call to those countries willing to come together to exert maximum pressure on Israel. Ireland must take a lead in advocating for an end to the violence and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza.
“We call on the government to fast track the Occupied Territories Bill, use our influence in the EU to suspend the EU-Israel Trade Bill, and work to pass a cross party Dáil motion on the war, as was passed in the Seanad. The international community cannot stand idly by while innocent lives are lost and people suffer. It is time for decisive action to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”