Irish president suggests UN should exclude Israel for ‘practicing genocide’ in Gaza

• Michael D. Higgins called the UN findings that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza a ‘very important document’
• ‘We must look at their exclusion from the United Nations itself,’ he suggested, referring to Israel and countries that supply it with arms

LONDON: Irish President Michael D. Higgins has suggested the exclusion of Israel and countries that supply it with arms from the UN, following a recent UN report that concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Higgins, whose term ends later this year, called the findings of the team of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council a “very important document.”

He said: “I believe myself that the kind of actions that are necessary now are the exclusion of those who are practicing genocide, and those who are supporting genocide with armaments.

“We must look at their exclusion from the United Nations itself, and we should have no hesitation any longer in relation to ending trade with people who are inflicting this at our fellow human beings.”

The findings from the three-member team were published this week as the Israeli government deployed tanks and ground troops to occupy Gaza City after weeks of targeting high-rise buildings in the Palestinian metropolis, where nearly 1 million people reside.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, established four years ago, cannot take action against individual countries. However, its findings may be used by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court or the UN’s International Court of Justice.

Israel has refused to cooperate with the UN commission and has repeatedly described allegations of genocide as “antisemitic.”