Kilkenny MEP's grave fears for Irish peacekeepers, says actions of Israeli regime cannot be tolerated

Kilkenny MEP Kathleen Funchion has expressed her fears for Irish Peacekeepers in the Middle East, and hit out at Israel over its conduct in invading Lebanon and killing tens of thousands of people in Gaza.

Sinn Féin MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, have written to Josep Borrell, the European Commission’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to highlight the dangerous situation that faced Irish and other UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon. 

In a joint statement, MEPs Boylan and Funchion both expressed deep concern for the situation, adding that neither Ireland nor the EU should do business with countries that disregard international law, commit genocide or threaten United Nation Peacekeepers.

“The Israeli invasion of Lebanon should be utterly condemned. During Israel’s new attempt to extend their genocide into Lebanon, IDF troops temporarily located themselves metres from UN Peacekeepers, including those from Ireland," MEP Funchion said. 

“Therefore we have written to Josep Borrell, the European Commission’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, encouraging him and the Commission to immediately intervene with Israel and to take the appropriate actions and suspend the EU/Israel association agreement.”

MEP Lynn Boylan said: “We are very concerned that the Israeli authorities have used this location to fire at targets deeper into Lebanese territory, placing UN Peacekeepers in danger from both IDF fire and retaliatory fire.

“The actions of the Israeli regime cannot be tolerated, and this latest escalation cannot be responded to by words alone. In Ireland, we need the Occupied Territories Bill to be implemented immediately and at an EU level, we need the immediate suspension of the EU/Israel association agreement. Neither Ireland nor the EU should do business with countries that disregard international law, commit genocide or threaten United Nation Peacekeepers."
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