Sinn Féin has said Micheál Martin should make it clear that Ireland stands in support of Gaza during an expected St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House.

The party recently revealed that it will be boycotting this year's annual event as a show of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The decision came following calls from President Trump for Palestinians to be displaced from their territory.

Party spokesperson on justice Deputy Matt Carthy told The Hard Shoulder it was not a move that was made lightly.

“It was taken against a backdrop of what is a very serious situation – one of such seriousness that our party felt that a stand needed to be taken,” he said.

“We have long disagreed with US policy in relation to the Middle East, we have conveyed that in all of our engagement with US representatives over the years.

“But the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people..., the permanent seizure of Palestinian land and what is a very vocal and obvious walking away from the two-state solution is a really grave escalation.”

However, the party believes Taoiseach Micheál Martin should still attend the ceremony, as he will have the opportunity to directly speak with President Trump.

“We think as a small country, as an independent country with an independent foreign policy, that we have an opportunity on St Patrick’s Day through the Taoiseach," Deputy Carthy said.

"He should utilise that to articulate the very strongly held views of the Irish people in this regard."

Economic dependency

Deputy Carthy acknowledged Ireland’s economic dependence on US companies, but said he did not think there would be any blowback if the Taoiseach were to discuss Gaza with President Trump.

“There comes a point, as I say, where political leaders need to stand up for international law,” he said.

“Because otherwise what we will see is the trajectory where international law has become increasingly meaningless will advance and will accelerate.

“That is a very dangerous situation I would argue for our economy and for the global economy.”

Deputy Carthy said it is a “grave disappointment” that the US has not been willing to play a “constructive role” in the Middle East.

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Main image: Micheal Martin at a launch of the Fianna Fáil manifesto. 11/11/2024 Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie