The Palestinian flag was raised at Leinster House today and the Dáil will hear statements on the move this afternoon.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon today said the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood is “brave” in the context of other world leaders, but does not go far enough.
“We have distinguished ourselves because the bar is low. It is our duty to go so much further,” he said.
Today's news in 90 seconds – May 28, 2024
The call for sanctions against Israel comes as the EU is exploring possible sanctions if the country fails to comply with an International Court of Justice order.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said EU foreign ministers have discussed for the first time the prospect of sanctions against Israel if the country fails to comply with an International Court of Justice order.
Mr Martin suggested Ireland would support such an approach, while Prime Minister Simon Harris has also said EU sanctions on Israel are not “off the table”.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said outside Leinster House this morning: “If we make the decision today to recognize Palestinian statehood – as we should have done a long time ago – we must also recognize that that does not go nearly far enough.
“This situation that we have witnessed in Gaza over the past seven months is nothing short of horrific. What we are experiencing every night in Rafah is nothing short of barbaric.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon
“The only thing that will end this horror is sanctioning Israel and the Israeli government.”
Mr Gannon said the Irish government must be “relentless” and “once again go further” than its EU counterparts, passing the Occupied Territories Act and introducing sanctions against Israel.
He said that the recognition of Palestinian statehood should not in itself be seen as a “punishment” for Israel and that there should be consequences, such as trade sanctions at EU level.
“The fact that (Benjamin) Netanyahu came out and said it was a tactical mistake when they literally bombed a tent village and didn't really realize that there would be children and women who would be burned in the process? That's not a tactical error. That was egregious.”
Meanwhile, Labor Senator Annie Hoey welcomed the formal recognition of Palestine which will take place today, but also called on the government to do more.
She described the images emerging from Rafah over the past 48 hours and the “cries and cries for mercy” and called on the government to “go even further than the law on the occupied territories.”
“We need full sanctions and a full boycott of Israel, the same way we had against South Africa, to tackle apartheid,” she said.
“What we are doing is not enough because we keep seeing burned bodies, burned children, burned women, burned men. I can't believe I'm seeing images in 2024.
“We simply must go further than just recognizing the state of Palestine.”
People Before Profit TD and European election candidate Bríd Smith reiterated calls to sanction Israel.
She said it was “very significant” that the Palestinian flag now flies at Leinster House.
“We believe that flying the flag and declaring recognition of Palestinian statehood is very welcome, but it does not go far enough, especially in light of the events in Rafah,” she said.