Irish parliament defeats motion calling for expulsion of Israeli ambassador

LONDON (AA) – A motion in the Irish parliament calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador was defeated Wednesday, with the government introducing a counter motion.

The Irish government’s amendment to the Social Democrats’ expulsion motion passed in an 85-55 vote, removing the sanctions it called for against Israel.

The voting came at the end of the business day at the Dail (Irish parliament) after heated debates Wednesday morning.

"When did EU leaders lose their humanity?" said the leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, on her introduction of the motion early Wednesday.

"The EU position now is that we want a pause in the bombing for a few hours – and then the ethnic cleansing can continue," she said.

"I reject this statement. Those who wrote it are cowards and their position is indefensible."

"More children died in Gaza in just the first three weeks of this onslaught than those killed in every global conflict since 2019," Cairns added.

"What is happening now in Gaza is utterly, utterly unacceptable," said Cian O’Callaghan, deputy leader of the Social Democrats in parliament.

"Hospitals, schools, ambulances, refugee camps, bakeries, medics have been bombed and attacked," he added.

"The Israeli government must be held accountable for the war crimes they are committing in Gaza."

Minister of State James Browne warned that Ireland would be pushed to the margins of international opinion if it expelled Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich.

Cairns said in response that "the Irish people are repulsed" at the killings in Gaza and warned that "an impending genocide" demands action, not words.

"Israel is killing with impunity. According to the World Health Organization, Gaza is now a graveyard for children,” she said.

"I recognize that the Irish government has done more than most of the EU to advocate for a cease-fire, but that's just evidence of how low the bar is.

"Words of condemnation are not enough. We need action.”

A separate motion urging the Irish government to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its actions in Gaza was also defeated Wednesday evening.

The motion was defeated in a 77-58 vote. Sinn Fein's motion was supported by the Social Democrats, the People Before Profit party and the Labour Party.

Hundreds of people staged a protest outside the parliament building in Dublin calling for Israel's ambassador to Ireland to be expelled from the country, waving Palestinian flags and calling for a cease-fire.