The EU is now considering sanctions against Israel for the first time following a “barbaric” airstrike on a refugee camp in Gaza, which has sparked international condemnation.
At least 45 Palestinians were killed in an attack on a tented camp for displaced Palestinians. The attack, which saw hundreds of Palestinian refugees hospitalised, was later described by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “tragic mishap”.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) officials said that the attack had killed two senior Hamas commanders. The Associated Press quoted civilian Mohammed Abuassa as saying: “We pulled out children who were in pieces. We pulled out young and elderly people. The fire in the camp was unreal.”
The deadly bombardment, which took place despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to immediately halt the assault on the southern city, was described as “barbaric” by Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
After a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, who were joined by Arab ministers, Mr Martin confirmed that possible sanctions against Israel had been discussed.
“Certainly, if compliance [with the ICJ ruling] isn’t forthcoming, then we have to consider all options,” he said following the meeting.
Mr Martin also condemned a Hamas rocket attack on Tel Aviv, the first in many months.
The Palestinian flag will today fly over Leinster House as Ireland formally recognises the State of Palestine along with Spain and Norway.
Cabinet will approve the formal recognition, which will allow Ireland to upgrade the Palestinian Mission in Ireland to an Embassy and see the appointment of an Ambassador to Ireland from the State of Palestine.
In Jerusalem after being summoned back in the wake of Ireland’s decision to recognise Palestine, Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich warned that the move could negatively impact Ireland’s tech sector.
“We are getting more and more phone calls and conversations of concerned people — if it’s Israelis who invest in Ireland and are concerned about their investment, if it’s Israelis who have relocated to Ireland into different tech companies and either are requesting to be relocated somewhere else or asking to return to Israel,” Ms Erlich said.
“I think it sends the wrong message about the location and the centrality of Ireland as a tech hub when there are more and more people who are concerned about moving to Ireland. I don’t think that this is the message that Ireland wants to send to the world.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris rejected the idea that Ireland’s recognition would harm the Irish tech sector and described the comments as a “distraction”.
“Imagine, this place where parents bring their children for safety and security, a place that is meant to be some degree of refuge and safety, at his most horrific time, was attacked, was bombed and 45 people are dead. I don’t think anybody fully comprehends at all the scale of this.”
Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins has said he is “deeply, deeply” disappointed by US President Joe Biden’s stance on Israel, especially given his deep links to and understanding of Ireland.
The US has indicated that it could impose sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials over the prosecutor’s request last week for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over its actions in Gaza.
Referring to the “gratuitous attack” on the ICC, Mr Higgins said: “It was unnecessary, uncalled for and is certainly not helpful.”
However, referring to the “options” facing US voters, he raised Donald Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser, Jared Kushner, who said Gaza’s “waterfront property” has a “very valuable” potential, suggesting Israel should remove civilians while it “cleans up” the area.
“Now remember what the alternative is… Mr Trump’s son-in-law has said what a desirable opportunity is going to be there in Gaza if the people can be persuaded to leave and the place cleaned up. These are the options,” President Higgins said.
