Councillors condemn Israel and Gaza conflict

As the conflict between Hamas and Gaza enters, councillors at the latest meeting of Leitrim County Council condemned the .

Cllr Brendan Barry called on Leitrim County Council to condemn "Israel's brutal assault on the 2.3million civilians of Gaza with almost 50% of them under the age of 18, which live in an area less than a quarter the size of County Leitrim and has resulted in more than 10,000 deaths including over 4,000 children to date."
He said that the "forced displacement of Palestinians by Israel with the cutting off of water, fuel, food and medical supplies and the destruction of civilian infrastructure including Hospitals, throughout Gaza amounts to collective punishment, in contravention of international humanitarian law."

He said the Gaza Strip is like "a huge outdoor prison where these people are living and many were refugees who fled their homes in 1946/7 when the state was set up."

He said the only solution was a "two state solution -a state for the Palestinian people and a state for Israel but the world can't stand idly by and allow Israel continue taking land from the Palestinians" adding that "1.4million people have been displaced from northern Gaza into southern Gaza which would be like 1.4 million people living in Carrick-on-Shannon being forced towards Dromad."

He said: "It's genocide what it happening and Israel is breaking all sorts of international laws and should be considered a terrorist state, in my view."

Cllr Mary Bohan said it was "absolutely shocking to see what's happening every day of the week, in this day and age and we saw it in Ukraine with what Russia has done."

She said that Hamas should also be condemned too in the motion. 

Cllr Des Guckian said he condemned Israel for their "brutal revenge attack of late on Gaza, I also condemn the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants and the murder and abduction of thousands of Israelis."

He said the leadership on both sides have failed "and have to start talking peace."

Cllr Padraig Fallon said that for a nation that "have endured so much as they have, can then turn around and carry out actions similar to that on another race of people" and said there "needs to be an immediate ceasefire."

He added: "In twenty years time, the whole world will be asking, 'How did the world stand by?" 

Cllr Sean McGowan said the situation has "been festering for years and years in the middle east and an immediate ceasefire is what's called for humanitarian relief into those poor people who are suffering."

Cllr Enda Stenson said it was "horrendous" adding "the power of the Americans, I think they could and should do more for those people. Human life is human life."

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock said that "to see small children slaughtered is totally inhuman" and said that it is not just a ceasefire that's needed but " a just solution needs to be found - they have to have their own state."

As the conflict between Hamas and Gaza enters, councillors at the latest meeting of Leitrim County Council condemned the .

Cllr Brendan Barry called on Leitrim County Council to condemn "Israel's brutal assault on the 2.3million civilians of Gaza with almost 50% of them under the age of 18, which live in an area less than a quarter the size of County Leitrim and has resulted in more than 10,000 deaths including over 4,000 children to date."
He said that the "forced displacement of Palestinians by Israel with the cutting off of water, fuel, food and medical supplies and the destruction of civilian infrastructure including Hospitals, throughout Gaza amounts to collective punishment, in contravention of international humanitarian law."

He said the Gaza Strip is like "a huge outdoor prison where these people are living and many were refugees who fled their homes in 1946/7 when the state was set up."

He said the only solution was a "two state solution -a state for the Palestinian people and a state for Israel but the world can't stand idly by and allow Israel continue taking land from the Palestinians" adding that "1.4million people have been displaced from northern Gaza into southern Gaza which would be like 1.4 million people living in Carrick-on-Shannon being forced towards Dromad."

He said: "It's genocide what it happening and Israel is breaking all sorts of international laws and should be considered a terrorist state, in my view."

Cllr Mary Bohan said it was "absolutely shocking to see what's happening every day of the week, in this day and age and we saw it in Ukraine with what Russia has done."

She said that Hamas should also be condemned too in the motion. 

Cllr Des Guckian said he condemned Israel for their "brutal revenge attack of late on Gaza, I also condemn the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants and the murder and abduction of thousands of Israelis."

He said the leadership on both sides have failed "and have to start talking peace."

Cllr Padraig Fallon said that for a nation that "have endured so much as they have, can then turn around and carry out actions similar to that on another race of people" and said there "needs to be an immediate ceasefire."

He added: "In twenty years time, the whole world will be asking, 'How did the world stand by?" 

Cllr Sean McGowan said the situation has "been festering for years and years in the middle east and an immediate ceasefire is what's called for humanitarian relief into those poor people who are suffering."

Cllr Enda Stenson said it was "horrendous" adding "the power of the Americans, I think they could and should do more for those people. Human life is human life."

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock said that "to see small children slaughtered is totally inhuman" and said that it is not just a ceasefire that's needed but " a just solution needs to be found - they have to have their own state."