Irish Government Suspends Trade with Israel in Protest Against Ongoing Attacks in Gaza – Foreign Minister Simon Harris
According to a report by Anadolu Agency, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defence, Simon Harris, announced on Saturday that the Irish government is moving forward with legislation to suspend trade with Israeli companies operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Harris stated that the Irish government will make a formal decision on the legislation on Tuesday, and he expects the Foreign Affairs Committee to begin reviewing the bill in June.
Harris strongly condemned the Israeli blockade in Gaza, highlighting the use of food as a weapon of war and the resulting starvation of children. He said, “For more than 80 days, thousands of aid trucks, including those funded by Irish Aid for over 6,000 Palestinians in Gaza, have been unable to enter.” He added, “The world must act now, but so far, it hasn’t done enough.”
He called on the international community to take stronger action to establish a ceasefire, ensure the release of hostages, and guarantee access for humanitarian aid.
Harris welcomed the European Union’s recent decision to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a move that Ireland has strongly supported.
However, he emphasized that review alone is not sufficient. “In my view, and in Ireland’s view, reviewing the agreement is not enough—it must be suspended. What is happening in Gaza cannot be met with a ‘business as usual’ approach,” he stated.
Occupied Territories Bill
Introduced in 2018 by independent Senator Frances Black, the “Occupied Territories Bill” aims to ban the import of goods and services from regions that violate international law, particularly Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
