President Michael D Higgins issues statement discussing ICJ case against Israel

President Michael D Higgins has released a statement urging global cooperation for peace in Gaza while expressing his concerns to those obstructing aid to the residents of the Palestinian territory. He warned that inaction regarding a ceasefire could not be ignored, especially with reports of starvation among Gazans.

"Today's new order by the International Court of Justice that Israel ensure the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance - including food, water and medicine - and open more land crossings in order to prevent the spread of famine and starvation cannot be ignored.

It is now not morally acceptable that a single voice would be silent in the European Union or international community, all countries must do all that they can to ensure the immediate delivery of aid, a ceasefire and the release of all hostages in line with this week's UN Security Council resolution."

Higgins criticized the blocking of aid trucks by "extremist settlers," calling it "an appalling denial of the humanity of those dying of hunger." Even though there are ongoing efforts, reaching a truce between the Hamas authority and the Israeli Government is challenging, especially with Ramadan nearing for Gaza's Muslim population.

Worries have grown about getting humanitarian aid and food to Gaza because of the situation for millions of Gazans after the prolonged conflict. Higgins said that it's vital that every country “does all in its power to ensure that a humanitarian disaster in its most extreme sense is avoided” in Gaza.

About misinformation in Israel, Higgins said, “We in Ireland, as elsewhere, have seen the rise of dangerous misinformation at the very time when there has emerged a widespread shared consensus on the need for such a ceasefire as will enable serious diplomatic exchanges to take place involving the release of hostages and, above all, the release of humanitarian aid to those who so desperately need it,” Higgins said.

Last month Lazzarini met with Tánaiste Micheál Martin who labelled the claims from Israel as a “misinformation campaign” and immediately increased funds to the UN agency.