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Why did Ireland abstain from a UN Human Rights Council vote on Gaza?

It wasn’t the only country….

THE UNITED NATION’S committee on human rights launched an investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza last night.

But in the vote on whether the Commission of Inquiry should be started, Ireland abstained.

The resolution on Gaza was drafted by Palestine and backed by 29 countries, including China and Russia, as well as many Arab and Muslim countries and Latin American and African nations.

The probe will see Israel’s offensive held up to international scrutiny – but not the actions taken by Hamas and other military groups.

The US was the only country to vote against the proposed inquiry but 17 countries abstained. Including Ireland.

Why?

Ireland voted in line with what it calls its EU partners, including the United Kingdom.

And the European Union issued a statement last night to offer an explanation.

In short, the EU (and, by extension, Ireland) decided the resolution was one-sided and biased.

It said that the resolution proposed would not, in its opinion, provide a “sufficiently rapid response to the urgent situation on the ground”.

The EU also described the final draft text as ‘unbalanced and inaccurate’, believing it to prejudge the outcome of the investigation because of certain legal statements it makes.

The explanation for its abstention goes on to state that violations of human rights laws by Hamas and other militant groups must be included in the Commission of Inquiry.

“The draft resolution also fails to condemn explicitly the indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israeli civilian areas, as well as to recognise Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself,” it continued.

For this reason the EU cannot support this resolution and EU Member States who are members of this Council will abstain.

The resolution does not mention Hamas but does condemn the killing of two Israeli civilians. It reads:

The Human Rights Council… Condemns all violence against civilians wherever it occurs, including the killing of two Israeli civilians as a result of rocket fire, and urges all parties concerned to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The EU emphasised that it had worked “intensively” yesterday “until the last minute” to find a text its members could support.

We were prepared to continue working for this goal. Unfortunately, however we regret that it was not possible to reach a positive outcome.

“This is such an important issue with the suffering of so many people on both sides at stake that it would have been a far better testament to this Human Rights Council if we could have been united.”

The chosen solution for the EU would be to dispatch an OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) inquiry mission to investigate all violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides.

Mideast Israel Palestinians Israeli helicopter takes off with a wounded soldier near the Israel and Gaza border. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Late last night, the Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement to outline Ireland’s position following the vote.

Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Patricia O’Brien said that Irish people were “appalled” by the violence in Gaza and the “very high and unacceptable level of civilian casualties”.

“It is clear to us that neither side is paying adequate regard to the cost of their actions on innocent civilians,” she added.

Ireland has called for an “end of the restrictions imposed on the people by the continuing Israeli blockade and the general closing off of Gaza” and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860.

(That 2009 resolution calls for a full and immediate ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.)

“The continued absence for people in Gaza of any political or economic perspective for the future is a breeding ground for extremist action,” continued O’Brien.

“Ireland fully accepts that the Government of Israel has the right to defend its people, but this right does not negate the rights of others. Any use of military force in self defence must be in accordance with international humanitarian law, and in particular must be both discriminate and proportionate.

In view of the casualty figures, we do not believe that this has been the case.

“We would also stress that the firing of missiles against Israeli civilian targets is without doubt contrary to international law.”

O’Brien concluded that Ireland would like to support an “appropriate investigation into breaches of international law”.

Last night, hundreds of people protested in front of the Department of Foreign Affair’s Dublin headquarters.

PastedImage-17059 Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

“The world has looked away for far too long,” Trevor Hogan, the ex-rugby international who visited Gaza last year, told the crowd, adding:

Just today, the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has finally admitted that Israel is probably committing war crimes in Gaza, including the deliberate destruction of civilian homes and the killing of children.

The demonstration was called by Gaza Action Ireland (GAI) and supported by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sadaka and the Palestinian Community in Ireland.

Speaking on Newstalk this morning, the Israeli ambassador to Dublin, Boaz Modai, criticised the passing of the resolution.

“The UN human rights council could have changed its name a long time ago to ‘UN Terrorists’ Rights Council. They are protecting terrorists” he said, angrily.

Read: Doctors condemn Gaza violence as death toll rises

More: UN rights council launches probe into Israel’s Gaza offensive

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255 Comments
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    Mute Alan O'Donoghue
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:25 AM

    Is anyone surprised?

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:45 AM

    According to a very stable genius if nobody gets tested there won’t be any coronavirus.

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    Jun 16th 2020, 10:25 AM

    @Dave Thomas: bit like Monaghan during Covid 19 then. No testing = no cases.

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    Jun 16th 2020, 10:25 AM

    @Dermot Foley: *the start of Covid

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:41 PM

    @Dave Thomas: He wants to bolster his second amendment supporters to take care of his first constitution problems.

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    Mute Cupid Stunt
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:02 AM

    Wiping out his fan base could be a good thing

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    Mute Garry Coll
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    Jun 16th 2020, 2:17 PM

    @Cupid Stunt:
    And this probably represents what is now conventional thinking for Democrats.
    Let’s forget about selecting an electable candidate and policies that might resonate with the voters.
    Let’s not worry about trying to persuade the non aligned or anti Trump Republicans to actually vote Democrat in November.
    No, let’s just “wipe out his fan base”, a euphemism for killing the 63 million people who voted for President Trump in 2016, and then we’ll win.
    Not that such an idea will get any pushback from the moderators here.

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    Mute Alan Conroy
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:26 AM

    Good stuff Donald, thin the herd.

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    Mute Paul Dolan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:22 AM

    A bit like Micheal Martin

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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:31 AM

    @Paul Dolan: If you want to see petulant then Supermac, throwing her toys out of the pram at not being in government, would be a better example than Martin.

    55
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    Mute Simon Connolly
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:02 AM

    @Justin Gillespie: The Martin/Trump comparison isn’ta bad one, considering Martin has lied to and deceived the very people that voted for him during the election. All so that he can cling on to a life long obsession of being taoiseach and doing so at any cost, despite a large contingent of his own party not fully supporting him.

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:14 AM

    He’s like a petulant child.

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    Mute Bramley Hawthorne
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:41 AM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: Yes but he has more weapons of mass destruction at his fingertips than most other countries combined.

    39
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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Bramley Hawthorne: I’m not gonna dispute that but he’s still a petulant child.

    62
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    Mute Dave Phelan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:46 AM

    He truly is one very sick psycho. His re-election is all that matters to him.

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    Mute Milkman Man
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:00 AM

    Apparently to be able to attend trumps rallys ,one has to sign a waiver stating” if you contact covid you will not sue “..

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:49 AM

    @Milkman Man: there’s no apparently about it. That’s 100% true. It’s part of the application process.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:00 AM

    A Great President one who speaks his mind and keeps his promises

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Jun 16th 2020, 10:19 AM

    @WreckDefier: presiding over one of the few countries where covid cases are continuing to rise. A conservative estimate puts the probable death toll in the US at 200,000 before the end of this year.

    41
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    Mute Sid
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    Jun 16th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @WreckDefier: How’d that Wall work out?

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    Mute DJ François
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    Jun 16th 2020, 1:05 PM

    @WreckDefier: “This account doesn’t exist”

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    Mute Barry Teehan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 1:23 PM

    @WreckDefier: Oh yeah , he is brilliant NOT !

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jun 16th 2020, 1:43 PM

    @WreckDefier: Just as Cameron did when ushering in Brexit. Regardless of the best interests of the people of his country. This push to entertain his voters is Philadelphia 1918 all over again.

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    Mute Kevin O'Donnell
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:23 AM

    I think he’s well aware of the possibility of spread. But I think he figures those cases will be so dispersed around the US that he won’t be held responsible. Very hard to prove it came from the rally itself too so he has a built-in defense.

    So he probably doesn’t care if ppl get it, more whether the blame will land at his door.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:50 AM

    @Kevin O’Donnell: unless during contact tracing the patients tell the truth then it’ll be pretty clear.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jun 16th 2020, 1:46 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: I don’t think they have contact tracing, do they? The survivors may be able to testify, but won’t they be in the minority?

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    Mute Malcolm Smith
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:14 AM

    It would seem that his policy now is not to speak of the virus and it may go away!

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Jun 16th 2020, 9:46 AM

    He rejects concerns….yet if you are going to his rally you can’t sue for contracting COVID-19 if you do get it !!

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    Mute Del Boy
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:44 AM

    What a brat.

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    Mute David O Brien
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    Jun 16th 2020, 10:05 AM

    1million people requested tickets for a city of roughly 500,000 people? Gotta love the numbers. The fact that Trump won’t wear a face mask might come back to haunt him. Ah not to worry HE is winning the fight against the virus!

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    Mute Will
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    Jun 16th 2020, 10:16 AM

    The Dems think it’s perfectly Ok to have demonstrations and riots throughout America and Trump wants to hold mass rallies with an eye on November.
    Our lot may not be up to much but they don’t look so bad by comparison.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 16th 2020, 1:36 PM

    @Will: pretty sure no democrat has said riots are OK and they have also advised anybody protesting to do so peacefully and with a mask on. What’s the betting masks wil be frowned upon at the Trump rally

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    Mute Eileen Horgan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:06 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: Several of the leading democrats support the removal of the historical statues in honour of the military leaders on the confederate side in the civil war which is part of the agenda of the rioters at present.
    It is also a well know fact that the main financial backer of the democratic party is financially supporting the rioters. Governors Cuomo, blackface Northam, Inslee, Newsom and Whitmer are the public face of that party and all support full term abortions.

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:29 PM

    @Eileen Horgan:
    That’s an awful lot of nonsense. Make it up yourself?

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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Jun 16th 2020, 12:25 PM

    How did ‘ we ‘ end up with this absolute muppet ?!

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    Mute Paula Mackie Senior
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    Jun 16th 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Pat Kelly: you voted

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    Mute Niall Kidd
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:23 PM

    Trump is a loser’s idea of a winner and a weakling’s idea of a strongman

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