Move FM Global News

DUBLIN, Ireland – The hostilities in Gaza over recent days has prompted a rare condemnation from the Irish government.

Usually Ireland is even-handed in its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and often goes against the western mainstream by oftentimes sympathising with the Palestinians.

However in a rare rebuke on Monday, Ireland has come down hard on the Palestinians, blaming them for the outbreak of hostilities in recent days which have resulted in the deaths of 24 Palestinians and four Israelis.

The dramas began with clashes at the Great Right of Return March on Friday at the Gaza border with Israel, which has been the scene for around 200 Palestinian deaths in the past year. Sniper fire from a Palestinian faction hit and injured an Israeli soldier which sparked retaliatory air raids. These in turn prompted rocket attacks from Palestinian militant groups, which were met by targeted assassinations of Palestnian leaders. The tit-for-tat clashes continued through the weekend and into Monday, when a truce was agreed.

Ireland however was unequivocal in blaming the Palestinians, even referring to the rocket attacks, which the Palestinians see as retaliatory, as 'terrorist attacks.'  He called on Israel to exercise restraint in terms of its 'response.'

"I unequivocally condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza over the last two days, which has led to civilian deaths and injuries," Ireland's Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney said Monday.

"These actions undermine the cause of the Palestinian people. The unjust treatment of Gaza and the suffering of people there will never be solved by violence or terrorist attacks."

"I call for an end to indiscriminate attacks on civilians and for restraint in terms of the Israeli response, which has already led to several deaths in Gaza," Coveney said, adding, "the international community needs to work with all sides to de-escalate tension, as a matter of urgency."

(Photo credit: UrduPoint News).