Motion re: Imposing Sanctions on Israel

Thank you for your assistance in helping us secure support for our motion on Wednesday. Please feel free to personalise this message with your own thoughts.

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Dear Deputy (insert last name),

My name is (insert your name) and I live in (insert your address). I am contacting you ahead of a Dáil debate on Wednesday on a Social Democrats’ motion, which advocates for the imposition of economic sanctions on Israel, expelling the Israeli ambassador and enacting the Occupied Territories Bill.

More than 11,000 Palestinians, including 5,000 children, have now been slaughtered by Israeli missile strikes in Gaza. Food, water and fuel has been cut off for more than five weeks – with just a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching the region. The healthcare system has collapsed, with scores of medics having been murdered by Israel; more than 50% of Gaza’s hospitals now defunct, including its biggest trauma centre – Shifa Hospital; and operations being carried out by torch light with no anaesthetic.

This conflict is one of the deadliest in the UN’s history, with more than 100 UN workers now confirmed dead. Instead of vowing to protect UN workers, and refuge centres, Israel has claimed without evidence that UN workers are members of Hamas – and are therefore legitimate targets.

Hospitals, medical centres, schools, UN buildings, bakeries, residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have all been deliberately destroyed by the Israeli military. 1.7 million people in Gaza have been forcibly displaced from their homes – a clear case of ethnic cleansing. Nowhere in Gaza is safe, because relentless missile strikes are occurring in every part of the Strip.

The carnage of civilians in Gaza is barbaric and shameful. As a country, we cannot sit idly by and do nothing. The Government must take a strong stance against collective punishment, and clear violations of international law by Israel.

The motion calls for the Government to:

  • Intensify its advocacy for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages
  • Provide strong leadership at EU level to advocate for economic sanctions on Israel, including:
  • Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on the basis of a serious breach of the essential elements human rights clause in that agreement.
  • Suspension of the EU-Israel Horizon Europe Association Agreement and Israel’s access to the €95 billion Horizon Europe fund for research and innovation.
  • Make a referral to the International Criminal Court requesting that it investigate whether members of the Israeli government and military have committed war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
  • Enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 as a matter of urgency.
  • Withdraw the diplomatic status of the Israeli Ambassador given the failure of the Israeli State to cease the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, UN staff and healthcare workers.
  • Pursue all possible avenues at the EU and the UN to build an international alliance for peace to provide a pathway away from violence and back to the negotiation table.

I urge you to please back this motion and show support for the demands it contains. I look forward to hearing from you.

Le meas,

(insert your name)”