Action is needed in Palestine more than solidarity, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland has warned.
Today marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, amid an allegedly fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Abdalmajid said the international community needs to take more decisive action.
“After decades of suffering, we still suffer,” she said.
“The issue of reminding the whole world is becoming unacceptable, because if you just want to remember, this is OK with full respect, but you have to take action with the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people for more than four hundred and nineteen days of this genocidal war.”
Children are seen in Rafah in Palestine, 28-5-24. Image: X/@UNLazzariniAccording to Dr Abdalmajid, the same effort that was put into developing the current ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon should also be given to Gaza.
“I think enough is enough,” she said.
“What's going on in Gaza needs attention from the international [community] – not only attention needs to be taken, [but also] action.”
Right to a sovereign state
However, Dr Abdalmajid said the International Day of Solidarity is still important for informing and reminding people of the history of Palestine.
“In 1947, the [United Nations] Partition Plan gave the right to Israel to be created and to exist,” she said.
“After [about] seven decades, the international community still denies to recognise the self-determination of the Palestinian people and the right to have a sovereign state.
“This is something that we need to remind the whole world [of], that they should not forget this.”
Hamas
Dr Abdalmajid said that the suffering of Palestinian citizens should be prioritised over the threat of Hamas.
“Israel [can] think what [they] think about Hamas – but I think about the suffering of the whole Palestinian people,” she said.
“There is Palestinian leadership that should take the lead and should be respected in that.
"When Lebanon negotiates – as a state, as a government, as a leadership on behalf of the Lebanese people – they don't talk about Hezbollah.
“They talk about the Lebanese people, and it's the same for the Palestinian [people].”
Dr Abdalmajid said she has hope that the situation will have progressed by this time next year with the help of the international community.
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