Kairos Ireland Newsletter – January 2025 – Ceasefire in Gaza

Ceasefire in Gaza – reaction of Palestinian Christians

Last week a ceasefire was agreed between the Israeli government and Hamas for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. The first exchange of prisoners took place on Sunday 19/01/2025. The full text of a statement issued by Kairos Palestine on the 20/01/25 in response to this agreement may be read here.

Kairos Palestine, representing Palestinian Christians, welcomes the ceasefire. It offers condolences for the 47,000 Palestinian lives lost and recovery for the 115,000 who have been injured.

Kairos Palestine notes that 70% of structures in Gaza, including 250,000 homes and more than 30 hospitals have been destroyed or damaged. The UN estimates that 50 million tons of rubble will need to be cleared.

Kairos Palestine argues that there should be accountability for what has occurred and that the rulings of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice need to be implemented.

Anxiety is expressed by Kairos Palestine that the land theft and attacks in the West Bank since 2023 should not continue and that journalists should be allowed into Gaza to witness what has happened.

The ceasefire must become permanent and UNWRA should be allowed to do its essential humanitarian work unhindered.

Kairos Palestine calls on the international community to ensure the rebuilding of Gaza and calls for Palestinian national unity.

In the final paragraph the statement, Kairos Palestine states that peace and security for Israel and Palestine can only come through justice for all and the mutual recognition of dignity and self-determination for everyone in the region. The concluding paragraphs of the statement assert that – 

‘While the ceasefire and prisoner exchange mark significant progress, lasting peace can only be achieved through justice, accountability, and the explicit recognition of our rights.

We wrote in our Kairos Palestine document in section 4.3 “Our future and their future are one. Either the cycle of violence that destroys both of us or peace that will benefit both”.  Till then, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a future where our people live freely, with peace, dignity and independence in our homeland.’

Petition against the IHRA definition of antisemitism

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism has somehow crept into the Programme for Government. This is most regrettable. The IHRA definition has eleven examples of antisemitism attached to it, seven of which suggest that criticism of Israel is antisemitic. This has been used in countries such as Germany and the UK to shut down justified criticism of Israeli policies. This must not happen in Ireland. You are invited to read this petition calling on the incoming Irish government not to proceed with this regressive measure and if you agree with the petition please sign it

The Occupied Territories Bill (OTB)

Another potentially regressive aspect of the Programme for Government is the suggested approach to the Occupied Territories Bill that was first sponsored in the Seanad by Senator Frances Black in 2018. Micheál Martin denies that there are plans to water down the original bill sponsored by Senator Black but that seems to be the case. We need to watch this development carefully to ensure that the illegal settlements do not benefit from trade with Ireland.

National March for Palestine – Saturday 25th January 2025

The theme of the march is for ‘Sanctions Now.’ We demand a genuine Occupied Territories Bill to end trade with the illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank; a ban on the transfer of weapons and munitions through Irish air space; and the suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement until Israel complies with the human rights conditions that are conditional with the agreement.

In 1994 I had the privilege of being an election observer in South Africa in the general election that brought an end to apartheid in that country. Sanctions against the apartheid regimen were a factor in persuading the racist regimen to enter negotiations to end violence and conflict. Sanctions may yet be the non-violent way of persuading apartheid Israel to enter serious negotiations with the indigenous people of Palestine. The current path of military might can only bring suffering to both Palestinians and Israelis.