A boycott of the US for St Patrick's Day 'would apply pressure' on President Joe Biden over their stance on Israel.
People Before Profit is calling on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to skip the annual St Patrick’s Day event to the White House.
The ceremony sees the Taoiseach hand over a ceremonial bowl of shamrock to the US leader, as well as meetings with officials on Capitol Hill.
The call comes as the Middle East conflict has seen some 24,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israel continues its assault on the besieged terrority.
Last week, the International Court of Justice in The Hague began hearings after the South African Government said the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces over the past three months amount to a genocide against the people of Gaza.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told The Hard Shoulder the conflict would not be happening without Washington's support.
"It could not be happening, and be continuing to happen, without the support of the US administration," he said.
"On an annual basis they give about $4bn in military aid to Israel, but now since November [US President] Biden has been pushing through an extra $14.5bn military aid package.
"We think it's vital that Ireland stands out on the world stage, we think we should be joining South Africa's case against Israel in the ICJ.
"We think we should use the opportunity of St Patrick's Day that if the genocide is still continuing, and if it's still continuing with the support of of Joe Biden, that we should make a statement that will be heard in America and heard around the world that we do not support this."
'Support of Irish-Americans'
Deputy Murphy said he believes such a move would receive wide coverage.
"In America the visit and the handing over of the shamrock and all of that is televised on US television," he said.
"It is an event.
"Obviously for Joe Biden support of Irish-Americans is a particularly important part of his political constituency.
"So, it would apply pressure on Joe Biden to hear that we're not going to be coming unless you say that the genocide must stop."
Deputy Murphy acknowledged that any such boycott is unlikely to affect US foreign policy towards Israel.
"What I know is that a genocide is being committed and all of us have a duty to do whatever we can, to apply whatever pressure we can, to bring it to an end," he said.
"This isn't the only thing that we think the Irish Government should be doing," he added.
Deputy Murphy said he believes the Government should also expel the Israel Ambassador and impose sanctions on Israel.
'WCNSF'
Irish lawyer Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh helped to lay out South Africa's case in The Hague last week, telling the court "huge swathes" of Gaza are being wiped from the map.
"Experts warn that deaths from starvation and disease risk significantly outstripping deaths from bombings," she said.
Ms Ní Ghrálaigh said current figures show, on average, 247 Palestinians are being killed and at-risk of being killed each day - including 48 mothers and 117 children.
She added that the situation has led to the need for a new acronym for Palestinian children: WCNSF - wounded child, no surviving family.
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