Northern Irish Party Leader: What Is Happening in Palestine Reminds Us of Our Experience with Colonialism
Declan Kearney, the leader of Northern Ireland's Sinn Féin party, has called on the international community to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel and to ban arms sales to the country. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Kearney described the situation in Palestine as a "genocide" and an "apartheid system," drawing parallels between the Palestinian experience and Ireland's own history of colonization.
Kearney emphasized that the Palestinian crisis represents a blatant violation of international law and fundamental human rights. He criticized Western powers for their failure to halt these violations, accusing them of enabling Israel's actions through continued support and arms sales.
"The horrific destruction inflicted upon the Palestinian people is a crime against our shared humanity," Kearney stated. He argued that the international community's inaction has allowed Israel to persist in its illegal occupation, annexation, and apartheid policies.
Highlighting the similarities between Ireland's past under British rule and the current plight of Palestinians, Kearney noted that both peoples have suffered under colonial systems that deny them basic rights and self-determination. He asserted that only through international isolation of Israel, including economic and political sanctions and an arms embargo, can these atrocities be brought to an end.
Kearney called for the use of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) as effective mechanisms to pressure Israel to cease its actions. He affirmed Sinn Féin's commitment to advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people and to employing all available means to support their cause.
In addition to addressing the Palestinian issue, Kearney stressed the importance of achieving peace throughout the Middle East. He advocated for comprehensive dialogue and diplomacy as essential tools for establishing regional stability and for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Concluding his remarks, Kearney underscored the necessity of adhering to the United Nations Charter and international law as the foundation for a peaceful and just future in the region.
Additional Irish Voices on the Palestine Conflict
Several Irish political figures and citizens have echoed Kearney's concerns. Mary Lou McDonald, President of Sinn Féin, has previously expressed her solidarity with the Palestinian people, calling the occupation "unacceptable" and urging the Irish government to take a stronger stance internationally.
Irish citizens, particularly those with a deep understanding of the nation's colonial history, have shown strong grassroots support for the Palestinian cause. Demonstrations in Dublin and Belfast have drawn thousands, with participants calling for an end to Israeli aggression and greater international accountability.
Academic voices from institutions like Trinity College Dublin have also criticized the EU's passive role in the conflict, urging more ethical foreign policy approaches and deeper engagement with human rights concerns in the region.
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