Voters have been urged to unite behind pro-Palestine candidates in the general election [Getty]
As Ireland heads to the polls in what could be a pivotal general election on Friday, voters are being urged to take a firm stance on Palestine.
With the war on Gaza still raging, campaigners and members of the opposition have urged voters to rally behind the Palestinian cause.
Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP and outspoken advocate for human rights, has urged Irish voters to honour the country’s colonial past by supporting candidates who stand in solidarity with Gaza.
“We are at a crossroads,” Boylan tells The New Arab. “This election is not just about housing and the cost of living – although those issues are critical. It’s about standing up for international law, for human rights, and for the oppressed.”
Boylan, who has been a staunch advocate for the Occupied Territories Bill – a law that would ban the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements – blasted the outgoing government for blocking the bill.
Despite widespread cross-party support, the government has stalled progress, citing concerns over EU repercussions.
But Boylan insists that the current government’s failure to act is both “cynical and detrimental” to Ireland’s standing as a nation committed to justice.
“We have a responsibility to lead,” she says. “Ireland can—and should—take unilateral action. The failure to pass the Occupied Territories Bill is not a matter of international diplomacy, it’s a matter of political will. If we are truly serious about defending international law, we must act, and we must do it now.”
The bill, first tabled by Senator Frances Black in 2018, has been sidelined by Prime Minister Simon Harris’ government, despite public support and the legal backing provided by the International Court of Justice’s ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation.
Ms Boylan has also warned that continued inaction could cost Ireland its moral high ground.
“If we don’t defend international law, then we are all at risk,” she says. “The rise of far-right movements in Europe and the disregard for international norms are directly linked to the failure of governments to stand up for justice.”
She pointed out that, while many Irish citizens are outspoken in their support for Palestine, only a vote for pro-Palestinian candidates can ensure that this sentiment is reflected in government policy.
“This is the moment for Ireland to step up and lead,” Boylan urges.
In the wake of widespread protests and public marches across Ireland, where thousands have shown solidarity with Palestinians, prominent campaigners like Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have called supporters to “make Palestine an election issue”.
Zoë Lawlor, IPSC) Chairperson echoed Boylan’s call for action, stressing that the stakes have never been higher.
“This election is crucial because of the genocide taking place in Palestine,” Lawlor told The New Arab.
“People are frustrated with words. We need material action, not just statements. Our government must stop hiding behind the EU and enact the Occupied Territories Bill.”
Despite widespread public support for Palestine and Ireland’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, Lawlor argued that the government’s failure to implement sanctions or enforce the law has shown a lack of genuine commitment.
“It’s time for action, not empty praise,” she says. “If we are to be a true voice for Palestine, we must push our politicians to act – just as we did when we boycotted apartheid-era South Africa.”
Boylan and Lawlor both argue that Ireland has the potential to be a leader in the global fight for justice, drawing on the country’s history of standing against colonialism and apartheid.
“We have a responsibility to show solidarity with the colonised people. Ireland lead the way in South Africa and we should do the same now,” Lawlor adds.
