Sir, – In my work as an aid worker I spent much of last year working with the Palestine Red Crescent, including several weeks in the West Bank. My eyes were opened as I experienced first hand the systematic system of apartheid and brutality that the Palestinian people have endured for nearly 50 years under the oppressive Israeli regime.
Villages are being taken from the residents by Israeli settlers house-by-house every week in an effort to push Palestinians off their rightful land and out of the West Bank. It was unbelievable.
I could see the Israeli settlement encroaching all around. I witnessed so much violence against Palestinians over and over and I was only there a few weeks. Their abuse was relentless, it was dehumanising and it can only be described as apartheid, a system largely funded by western governments with the lead coming from the US, my country of birth.
I entered Palestine on my Irish passport. When people would ask where I was from and I replied Ireland, they would thank me and my country for supporting their cause.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/5XHYQI4Q5RE7DJ3UUAXP32M4HE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/QL6ZNTOAVNAIRE5TRAB27K7WTI.JPG)
:quality(70):focal(733x503:743x513)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/U6M73XZDLVFD5A2BKWOIUFJEGM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/IDCDOFENMVD3FDVCXORW22UXT4.jpg)
Palestinians were very aware of the fight that the Irish fought for its independence. They were also very much aware that Ireland was and is a staunch and vocal supporter of Palestine.
I do not condone the violence of Hamas but I also refuse to condone the violence and annihilation of innocent Palestinians, many of whom are my colleagues and friends. My heart aches for the tremendous suffering that is happening every minute in the Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.
My husband’s Dutch grandmother once told me how, when the Nazis controlled the Netherlands in 1944, the SS cut off food to the Dutch people, forcing them to eat dirt, tulip bulbs and leaves, with hundreds starving to death. This is similar to the cutoff of water, food and aid that Gazans are experiencing now. This is in violation of the Geneva Convention. It is not an acceptable wartime strategy.
My plea to the Irish people is to keep remembering your history, keep practising your humanity. Reach out to your representatives and demand that we recognise the people of the occupied Palestine territories as people. Refuse to recognise the EU resolution to not recognise Palestine as a state – we know our history, we know the alternative to statehood is no longer tenable or humane. We have the chance to practise “never again” and mean it. – Yours, etc,
Dr NANCY CLAXTON
Sandyford,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – There have been numerous protests around the country that are ostensibly against Israel’s campaign in Gaza and the perceived loss of life.
These protests might have some credibility, as would calls for a ceasefire from Irish politicians, if they went hand in hand with demands that Hamas releases all hostages unharmed and stop attacking Israeli civilians.
On top of that, the constant chanting of the refrain “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” indicates a sinister undertone that seeks to demonise and delegitimise Israel more than any genuine concern for innocent civilian lives. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Kilkee,
Co Clare.
Sir, – The systematic bombing of Gaza and the indiscriminate murdering of civilians needs to be called out for what it is: a war crime.
No right thinking person would seek to justify the Hamas atrocities of October 7th but this response is grossly disproportionate.
Weak proposals for a temporary ceasefire are hopelessly inadequate and Israel needs to be ordered to implement a permanent ceasefire with immediate effect or face the consequences of their actions.
The US and the European Commission need to urgently retract their initial ill-advised unequivocal support for Israel and insist on an immediate ceasefire and the commencement of peace talks.
I would like to ask what ratio of Palestinian deaths to Israeli deaths will be acceptable to Israel and their allies? It is worth pointing out that a very small proportion of these deaths are Hamas terrorists, most are innocent civilians, predominantly children.
I am pleased to note that the President, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have taken a leadership position on this issue and would encourage them to renew their efforts to get greater support from Europe and the US before this situation is allowed to deteriorate into a genocide scenario. – Yours, etc,
COLMAN COLLINS,
Galway.
Sir, – There is a huge difference between defence and revenge; the governments and people of every nation should say this to the Israeli government, in the clearest and most emphatic way that they can. – Yours, etc,
TIM BUCKLEY,
Cork city.