Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe, has condemned the decision of the Government to abstain on a vote at the UN Human Rights Council to create a Commission of Inquiry to independently investigate Israel’s actions in Gaza and its violations of international law. The resolution to the Council strongly condemned Israel’s actions and called for an immediate ceasefire.

The resolution also strongly condemned the failure of Israel to end its occupation of Palestine and demanded that Israel immediately end its illegal siege of Gaza, and it called on the international community to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance and services to the people of Gaza. It was passed by 29 countries voting in favour.

Reacting to the Government’s failure to support the resolution Deputy Crowe said:

“The decision to abstain on this crucial vote at the UN Human Rights Council was a disgrace and is rightly being criticised in Ireland and across the world.

“The Council was voting on a resolution to launch an independent inquiry into violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws by Israel in Palestine. Over 700 Palestinian have now been killed in Israeli attacks, three quarters of the dead are innocent civilians, and one-third are children.

“Instead of standing up for human rights and international law, and maintaining an independent foreign policy, this Government decided to bow to pressure from other EU countries and abstain.

“Ireland has always prided itself on its outspoken and independent foreign policy which prioritises human rights, and has traditionally been very sympathetic to Palestine. Last night’s cowardly abstention in the face of Israel’s continued onslaught in Gaza was appalling and marks a worrying shift in Irish foreign policy.

“Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, has let the Irish people down and I have written to him personally to explain Sinn Féin’s strong criticising of the failure to support the resolution last night.”

ENDS