Mary Lou McDonald welcomes ceasefire
in Gaza
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has tonight welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the ceasefire must be the starting point of a just and lasting peace and the realisation of an independent Palestinian state.
She added that the immediate priority must be to drastically increase humanitarian aid into Gaza to alleviate the catastrophe that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people.
The Sinn Féin Leader said, “The announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. The joy with which the announcement was met by the people of Gaza is a reflection of their immense suffering. They have endured fifteen months of genocide, the slaughter of entire generations of families, mass displacement, the destruction of their communities, the obliteration of their school and hospitals, and starvation. Israel, with impunity, has committed the most brutal war crimes and human rights violations in full sight of the world. There must now be an urgent and drastic increase in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
Commenting on the opportunity presented by the ceasefire, Ms. McDonald said, “This ceasefire must see an immediate end to the brutality and a durable cessation of Israel’s war on a civilian, refugee population. I welcome that the deal will secure the release of hostages held by Israel and Hamas.
“The international community must see to it that this is the starting point of a just and lasting peace and the realisation of an independent Palestinian state. The primacy of international law must be restored, necessitating the dismantling of Israel’s systems of occupation and apartheid.
“If Israel continues to flout international law, it must face appropriate sanctions. For Ireland this means the passing of the Occupied Territories Bill at the earliest opportunity. Israel must also be held to account for its horrific war crimes.
“The ordinary people of Ireland have protested and marched in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine as they endured this horror. We now stand with them in the hope that this brutal nightmare is ending and that they and their children can look forward to a future of peace, freedom, human rights and justice. The world has a duty and a moral obligation to ensure that this future is achieved.”
