Irish President Michael D Higgins has criticised Europe's “lethargic” response to “daily horrors” in Gaza.
He said too many European leaders “have stayed silent”, and those who have begun to speak up are not using “appropriate” language.
He cited a set of measures announced by the EU on July 15 that would have allowed humanitarian relief into the Palestinian enclave and asked “how many have died” since then.
“In reacting to the horror that is a daily occurrence in Gaza, and now threatening the West Bank, some leaders seem unable to use an appropriate language to express what is taking place – be it the starvation of hostages held in Gaza or the condemning of young children to a slow death by malnutrition,” he said.
Europe will find it very difficult to repair the damage that has been done by a lethargic response that has tolerated impunity
Irish President Michael D Higgins
“I agree with those leaders, such as [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron, who are now acknowledging the reputational damage to the European Union.
“Europe will find it very difficult to repair the damage that has been done by a lethargic response that has tolerated impunity.
“For example, on 15th July a set of measures were announced as having been agreed that would allow humanitarian relief. How many have died since 15th July? How many children have been put into an irrecoverable place?
“As somebody who has lived by language all my life, it saddens me to have to say that even an appropriate language has also become a victim of this conflict.”
Ireland has been critical of Israel and consistently called for a two-state solution. At the weekend, Mr Higgins called for UN military intervention in Gaza, saying the UN General Assembly should establish “a force to be put together to guarantee humanitarian access”.
After the UN officially declared famine in Gaza city, Mr Higgins said it was a “tragic period” in the world’s history. He previously showed support for Palestine in May 2024 by attending a friendly football match between Dublin's Bohemians women and the Palestine women's national team.
Earlier this month, Ireland jointly signed a letter with other European countries strongly condemning Israel’s plan to expand the war in Gaza, warning it would deepen the humanitarian crisis, endanger the remaining hostages’ lives and “lead to an unacceptable high toll of deaths and the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinian civilians”.
Mr Higgins also lamented the killing of more than 200 journalists in Gaza, “whose words provide immediate reports of the devastation”. At the Spire on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, a vigil was held in solidarity with journalists working in the Gaza Strip.
The comments from Mr Higgins came before the Swedish and Dutch foreign ministers sent a letter to EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas asking for the bloc to increase pressure on Israel and Hamas.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely disturbing and intolerable,” they wrote. “The civilian suffering is beyond words.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard called for sanctions to be imposed on Hamas's political leaders.
Mr Brekelmans and Ms Malmer Stenergard also repeated their support for targeted sanctions against “extremist Israeli ministers”, a reference to Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who have already been declared persona non grata by the Netherlands and Slovenia. Such a decision at EU level would require unanimity, which is unlikely due to opposition from Hungary, a close ally of Israel.
Mr Brekelmans and Ms Malmer Stenergard also stated their support for last month's European Commission proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in a flagship research programme known as Horizon Europe. Unlike sanctions, this proposal requires a qualified majority vote. It has yet to be submitted to a formal vote, but Germany and Italy are reportedly opposed to it.
The proposal came after the EU concluded that Israel had breached a human rights clause enshrined in EU-Israel relations. A deal struck by Ms Kallas in July with her Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar to allow more aid into Gaza has failed.
“We feel that more needs to be done to ramp up pressure on the Israeli government to change its course and to meet its obligations according to international law,” said Mr Brekelmans and Ms Malmer Stenergard in the letter.
They also said they supported suspending a preferential trade agreement with Israel and called on the Commission to put forward a proposal to this end.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
