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2022-23 Trócaire Annual Report
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Buy a Gift of ChangeA human tragedy is unfolding in Gaza. We need urgent action to avert further suffering.
Civilians in Gaza are living under constant fear of airstrikes. Essentials such as food, water and power have all been cut off. Humanitarian aid is being restricted from getting in.
This is not good enough. Full access for life saving humanitarian aid is urgently needed.
We need to say clearly that civilians should never be a target. The killings of civilians and hostage taking by Hamas must be condemned outright, intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime. Israel must also ensure full respect for international law in all military operations. Collective punishment is a war crime.
It’s alarming that EU leaders are not calling more clearly for the protection of civilians and humanitarian access to Gaza.
But together we can help change that. Take action now to ensure that all political parties in Ireland call on the EU to take greater action.
It is time for our leaders to unite around the principle of protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian aid to those in need, and in support of concrete measures to stop the cycles of violence that have killed too many already. We need to address the root causes of injustice if we are to build a lasting peace in the region. We need political action.
Please, take action now. Simply select your constituency, fill in your details and press send. The pre-written email below will be sent to your TDs.
Dear Deputy,
As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure Ireland takes effective action to ensure the protection of civilians across Israel and Palestine and to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered immediately to the citizens of Gaza.
It is clear that the indiscriminate attacks, hostage taking and killing of innocent civilians that took place during the Hamas incursion into Israel, are acts that amount to war crimes. The indiscriminate bombing and the intentional attacks against the Palestinian civilian population and infrastructure such as hospitals and schools by the Israeli army also amount to war crimes.
I was horrified by Israel’s decision to block the entrance of food, fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip. Imposing a total closure of the Strip amounts to collective punishment of an unprecedented scale, on an already marginalised and impoverished civilian population. That hospitals have now had to stop operations due to lack of fuel and supplies is an outrage.
I commend Ireland for being at the forefront at both the EU and the UN calling for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to urgently get through. However, despite Ireland pushing hard for action in these forums, multilateral institutions like the EU and the UN are still failing to effectively respond to violations of international humanitarian law.
As such, as the humanitarian catastrophe deepens in Gaza, it is time for the Oireachtas to unite around the principle of protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian aid to those in need, and in support of concrete measures to address the injustices and impunity at the root of the current crisis and to stop the cycles of violence that have killed too many already.
Deputy, I call on you to do everything you can to ensure that Ireland voices its support for and pursues the following:
Please, Deputy, make a stand on this issue at every opportunity and please update me on the actions you are taking to uphold international law and stop the suffering of innocent civilians.
Yours sincerely,
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