Statement by President Higgins on violence in Gaza
Date: Wed 19th Mar, 2025 | 17:11
“The gravity of what is now unfolding in Gaza - the loss of so many lives, including those of women and children – must be recognised and addressed.
The credibility of all those who present as strong advocates for international law and humanitarian action is called into question and indeed strongly compromised by any silence in the face of what appears to be the real danger of the potential loss of the second phase of a ceasefire in the conflict.
All those in positions of influence must break their silence and, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres and others have done, appeal for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be re-established and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally.
The Palestinian families who are providing vital services in so many parts of Irish society are not alone in finding it incomprehensible that a siege that deprives families, including women and children, of water, food and essential medicines is able to operate without the slightest condemnation from some of those who claim to be supporters of humanitarian principles and international law.
The Irish Government has strongly condemned the renewed violence which has taken place in recent days. Any approach that leaves to a few countries such as Ireland to condemn what are international breaches of humanitarian principles and international law will rightly be seen by future generations as their having by their silences been complicit in collective punishment and of having privileged the threat of war above measures aimed at reducing or ending the loss of human life.
It cannot be left to institutions such as the United Nations and NGOs to express their outrage at what are clear breaches of humanitarian and human rights law. There is responsibility on all those who hold elected office not only to be aware of, but to comment on the continuing outrage that the escalation in the loss of civilian life and infrastructure represents. The retention of hostages is of course a clear continuing breach of international law and they must be released.”
ENDS