This Saint Patrick’s Day, We Want to Say Thank You to All Irish People Who Have Been Standing Up for Palestine
Ireland’s enduring sympathy for the Palestinian cause has made it a remarkable outlier in the Western world, which otherwise chooses to remain silent on the grueling atrocities committed by the state of Israel on Gaza. This solidarity towards the Palestinian cause traces itself to their own struggle for self-determination. While Ireland alone may not change the course of international diplomacy, its courage in going against the status quo is worth commending, and thus we have decided to dedicate this thank-you letter to all the Irish people who stood for Palestine.
Dear Irish People,
Thank you for seeing beyond trivial differences of race and religion and stand with us for the sake of humanity.
Thank you;
To Irish President Michael Higgins for criticizing European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen since the conflict broke out on October 7, saying she was “not speaking for Ireland and she wasn’t speaking for the opinions that they hold.” Your commitment to standing up for what’s right against such powerful forces is a virtue we all seek to cultivate. Thank you for not letting the forces of corruption and greed mar your commitment to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.
To the Foreign Minister of Ireland Micheal Martin for declaring that the state of Ireland will not cease its funding for UN’s vital work in Gaza while several other Western countries have seized their funding to UNRWA’s life-saving efforts in Gaza. Your efforts are of paramount importance right now as the Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN. Thank you for standing with humanity and justice.
To the Member of the European Parliament Clare Daly for always standing up for Palestine in front of the EU and the world and for declaring that the genocide that Biden promotes does not represent the Ireland that he says he belongs to.
To the thousands of people who marched in support of Palestine despite the drizzly conditions in Dublin. Thank you for acknowledging the Keffiyeh and demonstrating support for South Africa’s case against Israel. These marches and protests, inconsequential as may seem on a diplomatic level, are deeply meaningful to the Palestinian cause on a moral level. Thank you for speaking up for the hundreds of children being ruthlessly martyred by the Israeli government.
To all the Irish people who have voiced their opinion for the Palestinian cause, whether in the past or during the ongoing conflict, words fall short to describe our gratitude towards you. We shall forever remember this unwavering courage of yours.
Sincerely,
Muslim Girl Writer, Amber