Sinn Féin: Minister must act on Israel’s destruction of Irish taxpayer-funded material

Dublin (QNN)- Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs John Brady welcomed the decision by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence (JCFAD) to write to Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney following the Israeli destruction of Irish taxpayer-funded material.

The letter asks Minister Coveney to summon the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Ophir Kariv, to protest against Israeli occupation forces destruction of Palestinian property, infrastructure, and equipment, paid for by the Irish taxpayer.

“In the first instance, the wanton destruction of Palestinian property by Israel is illegal. It is illegal under international law, and under the Geneva Convention,” said Brady.

“The attack on the village of Humsa Al Bqai’a of the West Bank, which led to the destruction and confiscation of property, is just a continuation of a state policy akin to apartheid,” he said.

“Ireland, along with other EU states is seeking compensation of over €650,000 for the destruction of material destroyed by Israel, which was funded by taxpayers.”

“This is Irish tax-payers money. It is not enough for the Minister to issue statements on the matter. The Minister must communicate the governments’ stance on this matter directly with the Israeli Ambassador,” said the Sinn Fein spokesperson.

“What is happening day in and day out in Palestine is totally unacceptable. What happened in Hamsa Al Bqai’a is unacceptable.”

“Moreover, the Irish taxpayer cannot be expected to see its hard-earned efforts destroyed by a draconian regime, without the government calling them to account on the matter,” he said.

“The Minister for Foreign Affairs needs to summon the Israeli Ambassador, and make known the strength of feeling in the country on this matter,” he said.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that on 16 February, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) confiscated five donor-funded livelihood tents in Hamsa al-Bqai’a, as the tents were being assembled to provide shelter to the community and their livestock.

The “Irish Aid – Government of Ireland” logos were clearly visible among the debris of broken solar panels, children’s belongings and destroyed tents, marking items donated to the Palestinian families by a European Union umbrella group that includes Ireland among its donors.