42 h. ago Ireland’s deputy premier accuses Israel of ‘genocidal activity’ in Gaza

Simon Harris said it was now ‘clear’ that Israel wanted to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Politics

58 h. ago Two Irish diplomats among delegation IDF fired near in West Bank

Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said he condemned the ‘unacceptable’ incident in the strongest terms.

Politics

59 h. ago Two Irish diplomats among delegation fired near in West Bank

Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said he condemned the ‘unacceptable’ incident in the strongest terms.

Politics

9 d. ago Israel’s ‘no hunger in Gaza’ narrative flies in face of obvious evidence

Justification for Israel’s blockade is hard to sustain amid photos of malnourished children and critical famine warningsFor many decades, Israel was proud of its officials’ ability to defend and argue and convince around the world. The war in Gaza has seen the country’s public diplomacy face its greatest test – as was made clear on Wednesday morning with a robust exchange between David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, and Nick Robinson, a presenter of the BBC’s flagship Today programme.Mencer stressed that he was speaking on behalf of the prime minister and made an uncompromising statement of Israel’s arguments, including the accusation that Hamas – described as a “genocidal death cult” – uses civilians as human shields. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Israel committing genocide in Gaza, says EU’s former top diplomat

Josep Borrell also criticises EU response to what he calls largest ethnic cleansing operation since second world warThe former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has launched a blistering attack on Israel, accusing its government of committing genocide in Gaza and “carrying out the largest ethnic-cleansing operation since the end of the second world war in order to create a splendid holiday destination”.Borrell, a former Spanish foreign minister who served as the EU’s top diplomat from 2019 to 2024, and president of the European parliament from 2004 to 2007, also criticised the bloc’s failure to use all the means at its disposal to influence Israel, saying expressions of regret were simply not enough. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ship carrying activists and aid to Gaza attacked by drones, NGO claims

The ship issued an SOS distress call after being hit 17 nautical miles east of Malta

Events

3 w. ago Listen closely to the Kneecap furore. You’ll hear hypocrisy from all sides | Dorian Lynskey

The band’s rightwing critics are now cancel culture advocates, while defenders demand limitless free speechDorian Lynskey is the author of 33 Revolutions Per MinuteEarlier this year, the Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap appeared to be entering their respectable phase. Their self-titled film, a raucous semi-fictionalised biopic directed by Rich Peppiatt, won a Bafta for outstanding British debut, while Kemi Badenoch’s attempt to block a grant awarded by the British Phonographic Industry was overturned in court. As the film illustrates, Kneecap were accustomed to being denounced by unionist MPs but both sides reaped useful publicity. “We have a very dysfunctional, symbiotic relationship,” admitted rapper Naoise Ó Cairealláin.This process was dramatically derailed last week when Kneecap touched the third rail of Gaza and accused Israel of genocide on stage at Coachella festival in California. Cue fury from Fox News, calls for their visas to be revoked and, according to their manager...

Politics