Hamas strike on Israel - mod warning in OP updated 19/10/23

Then you didn't look too hard. President Higgins has always been fair in what he says and I agree entirely with him. He called the Hamas attack as being '' deeply reprehensible. '' What would you like him to have said?

You are not a bit annoyed about any of that except the bit about him calling oit war crimes and genocide. You are codding nobody.

It's well known I won't get any answers? That's one thing we can agree on. If only there were somebody here who had the ability to change that...

Tbh I happen to think if someone isn't willing to openly give their opinion, they can wind their neck in criticising those who openly give theirs (and, most importantly, back them up, as almost all posters here disgusted with this conflict do).

Oh it makes perfect sense and you know it.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0516/1513238-gaza-humanitarian-aid/

''

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has signed a joint statement alongside a number of European Union and non-EU European leaders condemning what they have described as "the man-made humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes in Gaza".

The strongly-worded statement was signed by the Taoiseach, as well as the leaders of Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain.''

I suppose the Taoiseach will be accused of being a Hamas supporter now.

To be confronted with a truth that you don't like is probably embarrassing. Particularly when the truth concerns wanton murder of civilians and wholesale destruction of property.

And don't forget, Israel murdered many of its own civilians on Oct 7th. And the IDF murdered those three surrendering hostages - the lads stripped to the waist, hands in the air and shouting in Hebrew. One escaped and ran off while his two mates were riddled. When he returned, they riddled him too.

Not only do people support Israel in its Genocide in Gaza, they seem to be OK with the Israel murdering its own too. Bizarre.

However, back to the Michael D discussion - they're embarrassed but as ever, the best form of defence is attack. Totally sums it up.

This line from the statement is really telling -

The statement reads that Mr Martin and other leaders "will not be silent" over what is happening "before our eyes in Gaza".

The eyes of the world are on this now and it wouldn't surprise me that this letter will put severe pressure on Netanyahu and we'll see food and medicine allowed in soon enough.

Ah sure, just a load of antisemites and HAMAS supporters.

:/

The US is attempting to distance themselves from what is unfolding but their bloodstained fingerprints are all over it

That there is a groundswell of opinion against Israel's campaign and more vociferous condemnation for International leaders is a good thing.

But I believe these people are in the know and we are days away from Gazans starving to death. Kids are suffering malnutrition, their teeth are falling out. Those on the brink of starvation will not survive even if Israel releases its blockade of humanitarian aid first thing in the morning.

Being in the know and acting now gives them a sense of plausible deniability - a fig leaf of defence.

Also remember, it is over a year since the ICJ ordered Israel to ensure genocide is prevented by supplying humanitarian aid. Which they refused. Israel's day in the ICJ court is likely to be very uncomfortable for them.

But Michael D Higgins something something.

Without a shadow of a doubt. Even with forcing Israel to open the borders, no-one will forget that the US (and others) supplied the weapons for Israel to unleash hell.

I don't particularly like Israel myself but it really highlights a person's characteristics when they're all in for the Palestinian cause and not a peep about the Iranian cause. Why type of person can take such a stance.

I also don't get why these activists don't incorporate support for Ukraine into their Palestine marches. Do they not want to criticise Russia and Iran?

No one supports Iran. Israel is divisive because half of society supports what they are doing and other half doesn't.

It is like me being incredulous that you haven't condemned _____someRandomThing____ in your posts, as if you not doing so means you support it. Some things simply don't have to be said, and the lack of it being said doesn't imply anything.

Similarly, Ukraine is supported across the board. Why would people march to change their government's stance on Ukraine when it is already in agreement with the population? People in Europe can't change Russia's approach to Ukraine by marching, but they can change their government's approach to Israel.

I genuinely don't know if people like you purposefully do this, or you are too socially incompetent to understand how this stuff works. Either way, it's embarrassing.

Ok... You left it cryptic enough for me - but I think you are referring a letter sent from Michael D Higgins congratulating Iran's newly elected president on their election?

I understand you might not like Iran and fair enough... But is sending letters to countries in which we have diplomatic relationships not standard enough protocol when they elect a new president?

I'm sure our president and former presidents send the exact same standard, generic letters to Israeli presidents - despite Israel's many misgivings - when they get elected, and also to the Iranian presidents elected, or any other country we have diplomatic relations with, no?

This ain't some hidden lovey dovey penpal stuff - it's protocol.

This is an extract from Rte about the letter. Please read the below and tell me if you still stick with your claim that a standard letter indicates Higgins is "in bed with Iran"...

Speaking to reporters in New York, President Higgins said that the letter he had sent to the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was "quite a formal letter" from a head of state to another.

A letter from a head of state to another head of state "wishing him or her and their people well" would have "been just a normal letter" he said, and that he usually wrote to a new head of state after their inauguration.

He said that much of the text was supplied to him by the Department of Foreign Affairs.