Dear [name of elected representative]

I’m writing to you as my TD to ask that you take urgent action to stop the catastrophic situation in Palestine and Israel from spiralling further out of control. I ask that you take the actions listed below and forward my concerns and requests to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) warned in January of a plausible risk that genocide is being committed against Palestinians in Gaza. A separate ICJ advisory opinion in July showed that Palestinians in the West Bank are also facing a fight for their existence. It determined that Israel’s occupation of all Palestinian territory was illegal and must end.  

“Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has rapidly as possible…cease immediately all new settlement activity, and to evacuate all settlers from Occupied Palestinian Territory” – ICJ, 19 July 2024  

Yet since these rulings, Israel’s actions in Gaza and rapid expansion of settlements and forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank have continued unabated. 

Without effective international pressure, Israel’s systematic policies against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank will not stop.  

Other states are not helpless bystanders. The ICJ ruling makes clear that all states are obliged to take immediate steps to end their own complicity in these violations of international law.  

“All States are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” – ICJ, 19 July 2024 

Failure to act encourages violations and further fuels this devastating conflict. Record numbers of Palestinians – including over 16,000 children – have been killed so far in Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October, 2023. Over 100 Israeli hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza.  

“Every morning when we wake up, we check ourselves to see if we are alive…Every day we survive, we thank God we survived today but we don’t know what tomorrow will bring” – Ayman, a shepherd facing forced displacement and settler violence in the Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank. You can read his full story here.

Ireland took a welcome lead in May in recognising the state of Palestine. It also showed leadership in co-sponsoring Palestine’s resolution at the recent United Nations General Assembly session on the ICJ advisory opinion. But it’s now time for Ireland to go further and urgently implement the ICJ’s ruling.  

One clear way the government can do this is to pass the Occupied Territories Bill to ban all trade with illegal Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land.

This Bill was passed in full by the Seanad before being introduced to the Dail where a majority of TDs also voted in favour. And yet the current and previous governments have refused to pass it based on advice from Attorneys General that the Bill is incompatible with EU law. Newly published legal advice sought by civil society groups including Sadaka, Christian Aid Ireland and Trocaire has determined that the Bill is compatible with EU law. Furthermore the advice finds that its passing is now “necessary” following the ICJ ruling to ensure Ireland’s compliance with international law.

I ask that you: 

• Forward my concerns to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence and request that the Occupied Territories Bill is passed without delay 

• Add your public support to the urgent passing of the Occupied Territories Bill 

• Work with your colleagues to ensure a clear commitment to supporting the Bill is included in your general election manifesto 

I look forward to hearing your response and the response from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

Thank you,

[your name + your home address]