- Opinion
- 07 May 26
People Before Profit to bring sanctions bill against Israel before Dáil next week
Party TD Richard Boyd Barrett calls for “comprehensive sanctions” against Israel
People Before Profit is set to bring forward a new sanctions bill against Israel next week, proposed by party member Richard Boyd Barrett. The legislation is due to be debated in the Dáil on May 14, with a vote expected on May 20.
In a statement shared across social media platforms, the party said the bill comes in response to the “genocidal destruction of Gaza”, citing the killing of civilians, the displacement of Palestinians and the destruction of infrastructure including hospitals and schools.
“Since 1948, the Israeli regime has been built on apartheid, ethnic cleansing and the oppression of the Palestinian people, including illegal occupation, annexation, a decades-long siege of Gaza, and repeated violations of international law.”
It further stated that the conflict has expanded across the region through attacks on Lebanon and Iran, warning of the risk of a wider regional crisis.
People Before Profit also referenced Ireland’s intervention at the International Court of Justice in 2023, after South Africa brought a case against Israel under the Genocide Convention over the war in Gaza. People Before Profit argued that, if Ireland recognises obligations under the convention, those obligations “must be acted on”.
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According to the party, the proposed bill would introduce “comprehensive sanctions” against Israel, including bans on trade, investment, technical assistance and financial dealings involving the Israeli state.
People Before Profit also referenced Ireland’s history of solidarity movements, stating: “The people of Ireland have marched and stood with Palestine in huge numbers. Now it’s time to turn that solidarity into action.”
Barrett has also launched an online petition urging TDs to support the bill when it comes before the Dáil. At the time of writing, the petition had passed more than half of its stated goal of 200 signatures.
