Breaking trade links between Ireland and Israel over Gaza would lead to reciprocal measures. the Israeli Embassy has warned.
The Embassy of Israel to Ireland said Irish businesses could be impacted by cutting trade ties, following growing calls for further action by Dublin over the war in Gaza, in which almost 33,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Recent calls have been made for Ireland to cut diplomatic and trade links with Israel, including by Labour leader Ivana Bacik at her party’s recent conference.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy said supporters of such a move fail to consider “any possible reciprocal measures that might be implemented as a result”.
Calls for Ireland to break trade links with Israel have been growing louder, as the conflict in the Middle East rages on.
“Attempting to disrupt trade between our two democratic states does nothing to help to stop the conflict or promote calm but instead has the effect of stimulating further division while targeting uninvolved parties,” the spokesperson said.
“Those arguing to damage the important trade relationship between our countries appear to want to absolve Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation, of any responsibility for the conflict.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Israel’s blocking of aid trucks into Gaza’s Rafah area from Egypt as a “moral outrage”.
Rafah is in the south of Gaza, where Israel is threatening to launch a major military operation in its bid to destroy Hamas.
