• Despite robust support for Palestine among the Irish, numerous flights transporting munitions to Israeli weapons manufacturers have flown through Irish airspace since Oct 2023.
• The Irish government have been presented with a 14-day notice by lawyers, to suspend military and dual-use trade with Israel.
Lawyers in Ireland have given the Irish government a 14-day notice of their intention to take legal action if it does not “immediately suspend all military and dual-use trade with Israel along with the use of Irish airspace for the transport of weapons to the IDF.” This ultimatum underscores the growing legal and moral pressures on governments to reassess their military relationships with Israel in light of international humanitarian law and human rights obligations.
Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said outside Government Buildings on Wednesday: “This is a formal legal notification to the government today to take the steps necessary to comply with international law and, in particular, their obligations under the Genocide Convention.
Brian Cuthbert, deputy director of the campaign group Uplift which is funding any legal action, said: “We are sending a submission to the government challenging them on their increased military contracts with Israel, increased dual-use trade with Israel, and increased use of airspace by Israeli weapons transporters.”
Uplift stated that it has obtained expert opinions suggesting that the Irish government may be at risk of violating several domestic, EU, and international laws, including its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
Mackin asserts: “The increased level of military-related trade over the past year, as well as the use of Irish airspace for transporting arms to the IDF, puts the Irish government at risk of violating a number of national and international laws.”
Several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have transited Irish airspace since October 2023
Conversely, Irish PM Leo Varadkar has recognised official recognised Palestine as a state and has spoken on the plight of the Palestinians.
The people of Ireland have persistently expressed robust support for Palestine.
