Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, has spoken out against the recent attack by Hamas, which resulted in the killing and taking of Israeli civilians, stating that it is a breach of international law. McDonald expressed her outrage at the attack and the trauma inflicted on innocent people, describing the situation as “very, very dangerous” and a predictable repeat of decades of Israeli breaches of international law. She emphasized that the ongoing violence is having a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation in the region, with around 2.1 million people in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, including 1 million children, in dire need of aid.
During a recent press conference, McDonald defended her decision to meet with the Hamas leadership several years ago, stating that talking to all sides is the correct approach to achieving a ceasefire and respect for international law. She emphasized that meeting with Hamas was part of a broader effort to understand the conflict and its complexities, adding that it was essential to engage with all parties involved. McDonald’s stance on meeting with Hamas has drawn criticism from some quarters, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Mary Lou McDonald (Via Mary Lou McDonald/Twitter)
The European Commission has announced that it is reviewing and suspending all of its development aid for Palestinians, worth €691 million, in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. Germany and Austria have also suspended their bilateral development aid to Palestinians, while Italy has indicated that such a move is not feasible. The suspensions have raised concerns about the impact on humanitarian assistance, with around 2.1 million people in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, including 1 million children, in need of aid.
The situation highlights the complexities and challenges of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a crisis that has been ongoing for decades. McDonald’s condemnation of the Hamas attack and defense of her meetings with the group demonstrate her commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, while also acknowledging the need to engage with all parties involved.
