Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he hopes the International Court of Justice might make an interim order calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, while it deliberates over South Africa’s proceedings alleging genocide against Israel.
The case filed last month by South Africa, which has opened in The Hague, alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel are genocidal in character” with the specific intention to “destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group”.
Asked about the matter during a visit to Pristina, Kosovo, Mr Varadkar said the Government was “deeply concerned that Israel may have committed war crimes in its actions in Gaza and we have made that very clear”.
“When it comes to the issue of genocide that is a very particular matter and the International Court of Justice will now have to rule on that and it may take many years before they rule on that,” he said.
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“The South African case might allow the International Court of Justice to make an order calling for the fighting to stop while the case is considered over the next number of years, and I think that’s where Ireland could play a role, if the ICJ issues such an order,” he said.
Mr Varadkar added that the ICJ had issued a similar order following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had been ignored by Russia.
“I would be afraid that Israel would do the same,” he said. “The Irish Government is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, that’s the most important thing, that the violence should stop and we can move towards a political solution and that will be a two state solution.”
Mr Varadkar was speaking after meeting 13 Defence Forces troops stationed with the Nato-led peacekeeping mission in the west Balkan country.
Israel accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice
Earlier, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said the Government should have made itself party to the South African proceedings against Israel.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesman said: “Over 10,000 children have now been killed as a result of the Israeli indiscriminate bombardment. This is an important time for international leadership. Unfortunately, that international leadership has been sorely lacking in many quarters.”
Mr Carthy said the Government has been “one of the more progressive voices” on the bombardment of Gaza and Sinn Féin has “acknowledged that and we’ve welcomed that”.
However, he said Ireland “must go beyond words” at this stage. “What the Palestinian people require, what international law requires, and what humanity requires is meaningful action. The South African government has taken a meaningful action by bringing this case to The Hague this morning. And it is imperative in our view that the Irish government join them in that endeavour.
He noted the Government’s decision to support Russia being prosecuted by the same court over its invasion of Ukraine but not in this instance.
“There has to be a question asked as to why there is a dichotomy of positions in respect of the Irish Government with regard to taking meaningful actions when it comes to Israel.”
Mr Carthy said it would be “untenable” for the Government to support the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission in light of her ongoing support for Israel since its invasion of Gaza.
While supporting the European Union, he said Sinn Féin was not afraid to say when it had taken the wrong course of action in terms of austerity policies or foreign affairs policy.
In what amounted to a call to the Irish Government not to support a further term in office for Ms von der Leyen, Mr Carthy said: “In my view, it would be absolutely untenable for any government that values international law and human rights to approve the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president,” he said.
He agreed there was no EU unity on the case.
“The European Union collectively has yet to come to a position where it can call for a ceasefire. Therefore, it is imperative that member states within the EU, including Ireland, join with others from across the world and actually make sure that our voices are heard,” he said.
“The Irish people in my view, are absolutely horrified by what they have seen in Gaza and are equally horrified by the failure of the international community to act accordingly. Ireland has to show leadership just as South Africa has shown leadership.”
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