Ireland accused of 'feeding' genocide in Gaza as thousands of cattle exported to Israel since war began
"To think that we are actually sending in food supplies into Israel to support the economy [and] government of Israel - worse still to feed the soldiers the government are ordering to go in to murder Gazans wholescale"
Ireland has been accused of “feeding” the Palestinian genocide by shipping thousands of cattle to Israel after they started bombing Gaza. The State’s Department for Agriculture admits to the live exports but says “Israel is not the subject of a trade ban at this time”.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), 68 per cent of the 8,862 cattle sent between October 1, 2023 and July 15 this year were beef breeds, while 32 per cent were dairy cows.
Former MEP Grace O’Sullivan says it “is horrific” amid Ireland’s vehement opposition to the war. She added: “This is something Charlie McConalogue has got to act on immediately. That statistic will shock Irish people... not only the animal rights activists, but the community in general.
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“To think that we are actually sending in food supplies into Israel to support the economy [and] government of Israel - worse still to feed the soldiers the government are ordering to go in to murder Gazans wholescale.
“I always said we should not have live exports, it should go in on the hook, not the hoof. Keep the jobs in Ireland and send it over packed. But at the moment, this trade with Israel is unacceptable. We have to remember what the Irish people did in terms of South Africa... by boycotting produce coming from South Africa during the apartheid regime.
“We have to do the same with Israel now. We are actually putting trade and money and profit above the human rights of the people of Gaza and Palestine. People keep asking me ‘what can we do?’ - we can stop trading with Israel.”
Ethical Farming director Caroline Rowley says the shipments are “inexcusable”, both in terms of the war and the impact on the animals involved.
She added: “The Department of Foreign Affairs warns against travelling to Israel because it’s too dangerous, yet it has no problem sending live animals there. This also means that a vet cannot travel with them.”
According to DFA travel advice, “there is a risk of rocket fire, drone infiltration and ballistic missiles which can occur without warning” in the country.
“But this doesn’t surprise me,” added Rowley. “It’s the same with Libya, another country in conflict, yet DAFM has been authorising shipments there for years.
“Israel may not be the subject of a trade ban but cattle are legally recognised as sentient beings, they are not products. Send beef by all means but shipping cattle there is unacceptable.”
Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan said: “It is appalling that the government is allowing Irish beef exporters to profit from a country committing genocide. No matter what the product is – arms, dual use items or otherwise - we should not be supporting Israel in its crimes. There needs to be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but if we’re to have any hope of bringing that about then Israel needs to feel the consequences of its actions through economic sanctions. The time for talk and gestures is over.”
She added: “The government should enact the Illegal Israeli settlements divestment bill and the Occupied Territories Bill, and the Arms Embargo Bill cease all trade with the genocidal apartheid regime. The EU should immediately suspend all trade with Israel. It’s not tenable for Von der Leyen’s Commission block and provides cover for the Israeli war crimes.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "Ireland has continuously demonstrated strong leadership within the EU on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU is responsible for external trade policy.
"Ireland has called for an EU-Israel Association Council to be convened urgently, in order to review Israel’s compliance with its Association Agreement with the European Union."
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