Sir, – Our Government should be careful in attempting to intervene in the genocide case against Israel (“Ireland to intervene in genocide case against Israel”, News, March 28th). The 1948 UN Convention on Genocide uses the term to mean “a number of acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing of members of the group, causing bodily or mental harm”, etc.
Hamas, recognised as a terrorist organisation by the EU, does not fall into any of these categories. Its 1988 covenant (a turgid read) calls for the destruction of all Jews and the State of Israel. Israel’s war which is against this terrorist group, not with the Palestinian people, and is surely justified. The Palestinian people have been historically abused by Hamas. Any of them opposed to Hamas have been tortured and even executed (see Amnesty International 2009; Human Rights Watch 2022 and Lawyers for Justice, 2022). We should remember that Hamas is the source of news and statistics emanating from Gaza and should be reported with appropriate caveats.
The BBC report on the October 7th Hamas attack had access to graphic accounts and video evidence, some recorded on the perpetrators’ own phones, of the most appalling torture, rapes and mutilation of women.
It carries a warning of the graphic nature of the content, but should be read by all to appreciate the trauma that the attack has left on Israel.
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Israel’s over-reaction, and the destruction wreaked on the Palestinians and their infrastructure, calls for a change of government, as appears to be the opinion of the majority of Israelis.
Unfortunately it seems this is unlikely to happen in the near future.
Meanwhile pressure must be kept on Israel to allow more supplies into Gaza. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN MARTEN,
Skibbereen,
Co Cork.