Take Action: Demand Irish Government Joins South Africa’s ICJ Genocide Filing Against Israel

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is calling for the Irish government to support South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s genocidal intentions in the three month-long assault on Gaza that has killed almost 23,000 Palestinians.

We have sent an open letter to An Tanáiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin calling for the Irish government’s endorsement of South Africa’s application for expedited provisional measures from the ICJ. These measures aim to cease Israel’s military operations in and against Palestinians in Gaza, putting an end to the tragic bloodshed and devastation and to hold those responsible for these heinous criminal acts responsible.”

We are also demanding that the Irish government make a public statement supporting South Africa’s case against Israel’s alleged genocidal intent. As a demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to its obligations under the Genocide Convention, not to mention the government’s frequently stated commitment to both adherence to the rule of international law and achieving for justice for the Palestinian people, this is the very least that can, and should, be done.”

We are calling our people to also make the same demands of the government, to emphasise the need for immediate action by the Irish government and the international community.

We are asking you to please take two minutes to the send the following email to Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin – thank you!

Please note – if the text copies with a grey or other coloured background, copy the text into Notepad first and then copy again, or ‘paste as plain’ text into your email client.

Email To: micheal.martin@oir.ie, tanaiste@tanaiste.gov.ie

BCC To: palestinepledges@gmail.com (so we can track how many are going in)

Subject: Ireland must support South Africa’s ICJ Genocide Filing

I am writing to you to convey an urgent appeal for the Irish government to support South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This application seeks measures to protect Palestinians from what are alleged to be genocidal actions by Israel.

I urge the Irish government to endorse South Africa’s plea for expedited provisional measures from the ICJ, aimed at ceasing Israel’s military operations in and against Gaza. The goal is to bring an end to the tragic bloodshed and devastation that has claimed the lives of more than 22,722 Palestinians, including 9,600 children (with an additional 7,000 missing and assumed dead under rubble), injured 58,166 and driven 1.9 million people from their homes. Israel’s withholding of water, food, fuel, electricity and medical aid poses a severe threat to the entire population, risking mass deaths from famine, dehydration, and disease. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, necessitating immediate and tangible intervention from Ireland and the international community to prevent further mass atrocities.

As a State party to the Genocide Convention, South Africa has complied with its obligations, alleging that Israel has failed to prevent and prosecute genocidal acts against the Palestinian people. The ICJ has scheduled initial public hearings for January 11 and 12 2024, with Israel indicating its participation.

To uphold Ireland’s obligation as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, I urge the Irish government to submit, before the opening of the initial public hearing on 11 January 2024, a formal statement to the ICJ expressing support for South Africa’s application against Israel.

Further to this, I call on the Irish Government to make a public statement, ahead of the opening hearing on 11 January 2024, supporting South Africa’s case against Israel’s actions of plausible genocidal intent, as a demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to its obligations under the Genocide Convention, not to mention the government’s frequently stated commitment to both adherence to the rule of international law and achieving for justice for the Palestinian people.

Ireland must act now. Since Dáil Éireann went into recess on 14 December, 3,935 people, including 1,730 children, have been killed by Israel.

Yours sincerely,

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You can find the APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS at https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf