Michael Fitzmaurice: UN and EU 'Standing Idly By' Over Gaza
Michael Fitzmaurice spoke in the Dáil about the international response to the Gaza crisis, sharply criticising the United Nations, the G7/G8 and European leadership. He argued that international institutions have failed to act, called out Europe's sanctions double standard and said America's backing of Israel blocks any other deal.
Fitzmaurice said the UN and the G7/G8—once seen as powerful—are effectively powerless in the face of atrocities in Gaza. He told colleagues that organisations that once looked decisive on television are now "standing idly by" while suffering continues.
He contrasted Europe's rapid sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine war with what he described as inaction over Israel's actions in Gaza, asking rhetorically what has been done to "try and cripple Israel's genocide". He criticised Ursula van der Leyen's leadership and warned that a few large states still dominate decisions in the European Union, affecting outcomes such as the Mercosur deal.
Fitzmaurice said an American-backed deal is central to any solution and argued that unless "America's deal" goes through there will be no alternative agreement. He stated that the US is backing Israel and warned that without the deal there will be further atrocities, saying that Nehanyahu "doesn't care for anybody."
He described calls from concerned members of the public who are moved by images of starving children and destroyed hospitals, and raised other global human-rights concerns. Fitzmaurice referenced reports from Syria where, he said, Taliban elements told men not to pull women and children from earthquake wreckage and noted the presence of an Al-Qaeda figure addressing an international conference, concluding that the world is in disarray.
International institutions under fire
Fitzmaurice said the UN and the G7/G8—once seen as powerful—are effectively powerless in the face of atrocities in Gaza. He told colleagues that organisations that once looked decisive on television are now "standing idly by" while suffering continues.
Europe's response and sanctions inconsistency
He contrasted Europe's rapid sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine war with what he described as inaction over Israel's actions in Gaza, asking rhetorically what has been done to "try and cripple Israel's genocide". He criticised Ursula van der Leyen's leadership and warned that a few large states still dominate decisions in the European Union, affecting outcomes such as the Mercosur deal.
US backing and the peace deal
Fitzmaurice said an American-backed deal is central to any solution and argued that unless "America's deal" goes through there will be no alternative agreement. He stated that the US is backing Israel and warned that without the deal there will be further atrocities, saying that Nehanyahu "doesn't care for anybody."
Wider concerns about world order and human suffering
He described calls from concerned members of the public who are moved by images of starving children and destroyed hospitals, and raised other global human-rights concerns. Fitzmaurice referenced reports from Syria where, he said, Taliban elements told men not to pull women and children from earthquake wreckage and noted the presence of an Al-Qaeda figure addressing an international conference, concluding that the world is in disarray.
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Transcript
When we were growing up, long before we were in politics, we looked at the news at night and we saw the United Nations and we said to ourselves, God, they are powerful, men in suits. We looked at the G7 or the G8, whatever you want to call it, and we said, my God, they are going to solve the problems of the world. To look at the atrocities that are going on in Gaza at the moment, and the UN and the G7 or G8, whatever you want to call them, are standing idly by and letting all this happen. So all these guys that we looked at the television and said, they will solve problems, they have power, have no power. That's the reality. That's what we've got to face up to. It's people thinking they were important when they're not important, when they're having the guts to stand up and be counted. In fairness to this government, and especially to all in opposition, the bill that was brought in here, and hopefully it will be brought through very shortly, it is good to see some countries in Europe coming on board. But you look at Europe, and you look at when the Ukraine war started, and rightly so, Europe automatically put in sanctions. They brought rounds and rounds of sanctions to try and cripple Russia. But what have we done to try and cripple Israel's genocide? We have done nothing. Ursula van der Leyen should have been ashamed of herself, the way she performed as leader of Europe. That's the reality. And sadly, there's a few countries in Europe that still control the European Union. And unfortunately, we're not one of them. There's a few big countries that nearly decide everything, like we're seeing in the Mercosur deal at the moment. And it's harrowing to get a phone call from people. People that would never ring politicians at the moment, that look at screens. And they don't know, they might not understand the whole world politics. But they look at children, and they'd have children. They look at fathers and mothers. They look at people basically starving, hospitals in bits, and no solution. And the reality of it is that unless America's deal goes through, there will be no solution now. And it shows one thing, that America is backing Israel, and unless that deal goes through, there will be no other deal on the table. There will be more genocide going on, because Nehanyahu doesn't care for anybody. That's the sad reality. And you wonder what's going on in the world, and how we turn a blind eye. Our teacher last week was at the United Nations. And a few months ago, we have seen the Taliban out in Syria. And what they have done, there was an earthquake out there. And I read, it wasn't covered in our media. It was covered in Spanish media, where the men were told that they couldn't pull the women or the children out of where there was an earthquake. That is sickening to see. And to see someone from Al-Qaeda at that conference addressing something when they are outlaws. Where is world order? Where is respect? And where is people coming together to work together to bring peace to the world? Because at the moment, the world is in disarray. Thank you. Thank you Deputy. Deputy Brorke?