Irish bishops accuse Israeli government of ‘genocidal actions’ in Gaza
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA
Irish bishops have accused the Israeli government of “genocidal actions” and “ethnic cleansing” in the Gaza Strip.
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference called for arms supplies to Israel to be “cut off” and urged parishioners to lobby their local politicians.
It said that during the month of June, all parishes on the island of Ireland are being asked to express their solidarity with the suffering of Palestinians.
“In Gaza people are starving and adequate aid is being denied; it seems clear that famine is being used as a weapon of war. Already over 600,000 Palestinians have been displaced,” it said.
“The evidence points to a staged strategy of ethnic cleansing aimed at removing the Palestinian people from their homes and their homeland.
“It is becoming increasingly clear to people on the ground that these are genocidal actions sanctioned by the Government of Israel.”
Israel’s 20-month military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The military operation has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population, often multiple times over.
A two-and-a-half-month blockade imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas have raised fears of famine and a new Israeli and US-backed aid system has been marred by chaos and violence.
“What is happening in Gaza – and the West Bank – is the death of tens of thousands of non-combatants, many of them women and children,” the Irish bishops said.
“This is unconscionable and disproportionate. It is immoral for world leaders to stand by inactively in the face of this outrageous tragedy for humanity.”
The bishops urged people to lobby their political representatives, support humanitarian aid and to pray for the conflict to end.
It added: “There is an urgent need for the international community to intervene, cut off arms supplies and bring the carnage to an end.
“This will call for courage on the part of leaders. Examples of courage are being given every day by heroic doctors, nurses and aid workers risking their lives in service of the wounded and those who have been displaced.”
The statement, issued on Friday, quoted Pope Leo XIV from a general audience he gave on May 28th, where he said parents in the Gaza Strip “clutch the lifeless bodies of children and who are continually forced to move in search of a little food and safer shelter from bombing”.
“I renew my appeal to the leaders: ceasefire, release all hostages, fully respect humanitarian law.”
Israel launched its military operation in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages on October 7th, 2023.
The militants still hold 55 hostages — less than half of them believed to be alive — after more than half the captives were released during ceasefires or other deals.