The Bloody Sunday Trust has written to the Taoiseach reminding him of his Government’s obligations under the Genocide Convention following
his statement that the Republic of Ireland’s games against Israel in the UEFA Nations’ League should go ahead.
Tony Doherty, Chair of the Trust said:
It is unequivocally accepted at the highest level within the Irish government, including by Mr Martin himself, that Israel is guilty of genocide.
Article 1 of the Genocide Convention states that –
“The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish”.
Noting that the Convention requires signatory states to enact relevant legislation and punish perpetrators, regardless of their position or status, Mr Doherty continued:
It is beyond question that the majority of Israeli football players have served in the IDF. Furthermore, Israeli footballers/ soldiers regularly advertise and promote the Israeli army, posting photos of themselves in their Israeli army fatigues. A number of them have openly incited genocide on social media, Shon Weissman, for example a member of the Israeli air force, asking, ‘Why haven’t 200 tonnes of bombs already been dropped on Gaza?’ while his teammate Tomer Yosefi called for Gaza to be erased permanently.
These ‘sportspeople’ are reservists, they’re active military personnel who cannot represent Israel in any international sports events without having first served in the IDF.
Mr Doherty emphasised that Dublin must fully discharge its obligations under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention by immediately detaining any Israeli footballers on arrival in Ireland, questioning them about their role in the Gaza Genocide and then charging them with crimes as appropriate.
He concluded by stating that the Trust will also seek legal advice as to the avenues open to it if Dublin fails to discharge its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
