Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, today met Lubnah Shomali, an organiser from the BADIL Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, a partner organisation of Trócaire.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Today Trócaire arranged a meeting between Ms. Shomali and members of the Oireachtas in Leinster House.

“We had a very frank and open discussion with Lubnah who detailed the brutal results of Israel’s indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Gaza.

“She also spoke about Israel’s illegal and crippling siege of Gaza which is a collective punishment of Gaza’s residents.

“Thankfully we have a ceasefire in Gaza that is so far holding and I hope that the negotiations in Cairo will extend the 72 hour ceasefire in place and make it permanent.

“It is known that the Palestinian negotiators are insisting that Israel end its eight-year blockade of Gaza and open border crossings.

“Israel should accept this basic demand and stop placing restrictions on the lives of ordinary Palestinians and their families.

“In the meantime we need to see the Irish Government and other European Union states take immediate and proactive actions in order to ensure that that the human rights of Palestinian are respected, and that Israel fully complies with international norms and standards.”

ENDS