Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended the party’s position on expelling the Israeli Ambassador, saying “it’s all about a ceasefire”. 

The party has called for Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich to expelled from Ireland.

Speaking ahead of her address to the party’s Ard Fheis this evening, Ms McDonald said the “heart” of Sinn Féin’s decision is to “achieve a ceasefire”. 

“It's not simply to expel an ambassador for the sake of it,” she said. 

“This is all about ceasefire. 

“I think is really, really alarming and really dangerous that the Netanyahu government has repeatedly refused to agree to a ceasefire. 

“That is the only way in which the safety of everybody [will be achieved]: civilians, the hostages that are being held currently by Hamas.” 

'Gaza is hell on earth'

Ms McDonald said, given the level of violence in Gaza, the party is “bound to examine every lever that you have at your disposal to put pressure on that policy and to put pressure on that government”. 

“Breaches of international law cannot be inconsequential,” she said. 

Palestinian Ambassador Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid spoke at the Ard Fheis earlier today, expressing her “sincere gratitude to the people of Ireland” for “being so vocal on the side of justice”. 

“Israel must be held accountable for the war crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” she said. 

“Gaza is hell on earth; what is going now in Gaza didn't happen out of thin air, a colossal political and moral failure has led to where we are now. 

“There is hardly shelter, food, water or fuel - neither peace nor security can prevail while the rights of the Palestinians are denied.” 

'Our focus is on a ceasefire'

Sinn Féin enterprise spokesperson Louise O’Reilly echoed McDonald’s comments today in an interview with Newstalk, saying what happening in Gaza is a “massacre”. 

“We do believe in dialogue, and we understand just exactly how important dialogue is,” she said. 

“However, what is happening in Gaza right now, is a massacre. 

“The position of the Israeli ambassador has become untenable because of her defence of those actions in Gaza. 

“Our focus is not to get distracted - our focus is on a ceasefire.” 

Main image: Michelle O'Neill, Palestinian Ambassador Wahba Abdalmajid and Mary Lou McDonald TD at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, 11/11/2023. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie