Cavan Council backs end to Gaza bombardment

SF Councillor calls for boycott of Israeli goods.

Cavan Councillors have condemned the 'ongoing attack on Gaza' by the Israeli army resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.

They also condemned the unprecedented assault on Israel by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip on October 7, which saw the killing of 1,200 people and the taking of more than 240 hostages.

Since then close to 19,000 people have been killed and millions more displaced following military incursions and relentless airstrikes led by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

Supporting an immediate ceasefire, the council hit out against the US Government which last week used emergency authority to sanction the $100 million sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel without first passing congressional review.

The motion was tabled by Sinn Féin's Paddy McDonald, and received widespread support from within the chamber, with an addendum only to condemn also the actions of Hamas.

“What Israel has inflicted on the people on Gaza since cannot be justified,” said Cllr McDonald, who supported recent statements made by An Tánaiste Micheál Martin in relation to allowing international aid to reach Gaza.

The Bailieborough representative further called on consumers and businesses alike to “remember the power” of the South African boycotts here in the 1980s, while suggesting war crimes committed in Israel and Gaza should be prosecuted at the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Israeli goods should be shunned until a lasting peace is restored in the region,” he stated. “There should be immediate ceasefires, followed by the release of all hostages and the unconditional adherence to international law, the UN charter and full investigative powers need to be given to the International Criminal Court.”

The amendment to the original motion was proposed by Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley, and and it was Independent Brendan Fay, a dual Irish-US passport holder, who spoke out against the role of the American government.

See next week's Anglo-Celt for full report.