Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that Ireland must formally recognise the state of Palestine as Israeli aggression ramps up in the dying days of the Trump administration.

Teachta Crowe said that the Fianna Fail and Green party TDs who claimed to support the Palestinian people must stand up and be counted as homes, businesses, schools are torn down by an oppressing regime.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Today Sunday is the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People offers an opportunity for the international community, and for Ireland to honour the hopes and aspirations for peace and dignity of the Palestinian People, through a show of solidarity with the People of Palestinian.

“The Palestinian People continue to live under daily oppression by the Israeli authorities.

“The illegal annexation of the West Bank by the apartheid Israeli government is ongoing. In the final weeks of the Trump Presidency, the Israeli authorities are ramping up their ongoing attempts at annexation while they still have the support of the US.

“Palestinian families are being made homeless on a daily basis. Just this week, we have witnessed Palestinian families in the al-Burj and al-Maita areas of the Jordan Valley being forced out of their homes in order to make way for Israeli military training operations in the area.

“Earlier this month, on a single day, 41 children had their homes destroyed by the Israeli security forces.

“Demolition is not just confined to homes. Humanitarian infrastructure, including schools, water and sanitation, and farming equipment have also been targeted and destroyed. Much of this equipment was funded through humanitarian projects by EU states, including Ireland.

“As communities throughout the world attempt to cope with a global pandemic, the Israeli government compound the challenges faced by Palestinians through daily acts of aggression.

“The Israeli government is committed to making it impossible for the Palestinian People to maintain a viable homeland. They respect no international laws or norms as they pursue a policy of scorched earth, tearing all that the Palestinian people have built, homes and businesses included.

“I once again call upon the Irish government, especially those Fianna Fáil and Green Party TDs who claimed to support the Palestinian people in the past, to use this occasion to honour the wishes of the elected members of the Dáil who voted to recognise the state of Palestine by formally doing so now on behalf of the Irish people.”