Leo warns US of Israel’s bombing of Gaza children

On first night of St Patrick’s trip, Varadkar tells of fears for Middle East

CHILDREN in Gaza should not be subject to ‘collective punishment’ by the Israeli government, the Taoiseach told US dignitaries on the first night of his St Patrick’s Day visit last night.

Leo Varadkar gave a speech at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in front of VIPs and politicians from New England including Joe Kennedy, the special envoy to Northern Ireland.

Mr Varadkar’s position on Palestine is set to be closely watched this week as he meets with both Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.

The US remains Israel’s strong est supporter amid growing concerns over its military operations in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis in the region.

In his opening remarks last night, Mr Varadkar said: ‘Colleagues, when thousands of children are killed in response no one can avert their eyes.

‘The life of a child is the greatest gift of all. Childhood should be a blessing. Today in Gaza, for so many it is a death sentence and a curse.

‘We all know that there are guilty people who perpetrated unspeakable acts of terrorism. But there are innocent men, women and children suffering for their sins.’

While not mentioning the Israeli government or the Israeli Defence Forces explicitly, Mr Varadkar said: ‘The cries of the innocent will haunt us forever if we stay silent. The cries will engender more retaliation and beget more violence and revenge. No child ever gave their consent for terrorist acts. No child should ever be punished for them.’

He said it was ‘unconscionable’ that children were dying ‘not just as a result of relentless bombing and destruction’, but of ‘hunger and thirst’ and from an absence of medical treatment and care.

Mr Varadkar said that Ireland knew that a ceasefire does ‘not mean surrender... not mean forgiveness’. He said: ‘A ceasefire means hope. It means breaking free of the perpetual cycle of violence, recrimination and retaliation. It means believing in our shared humanity instead of a need for revenge.’

Mr Varadkar also said that the ‘transatlantic commitment’ to Ukraine must ‘remain steadfast’ to ensure that Ukraine prevails in its war against Russia.

He added: ‘We must not forget the lessons of the 1930s in Europe. You cannot appease a dictator.’