Robinson Accuses Israel of Lies and Nonsense
Mary Robinson Calls for Sanctions Against Netanyahu, accuses Israel of Obstructing Gaza aid
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Former Irish President Mary Robinson has sharply criticised Israel’s handling of aid deliveries to Gaza, accusing Israeli authorities of deliberately obstructing efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and calling for targeted sanctions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet.Her remarks follow a recent visit to Egypt and the Rafah crossing with former New Zealand president Helen Clark, where they witnessed the aid delivery process firsthand.
Accusations of Aid Obstruction and “Malicious lying”
Robinson dismissed Israeli claims that UN agencies are too slow in distributing aid as “all ridiculous.” She highlighted the strong collaboration between the Egyptian Red Crescent and the UN,contrasting it with what she described as a lack of cooperation from the Israeli side.
“We saw the most amazing collaboration between the Egyptian Red Crescent… and the UN,” she stated, adding that she observed “piles of vital materials… rejected, sent back. Tents, wheelchairs, crutches.”
Robinson recounted witnessing lorries returning with food parcels, with drivers reporting repeated rejections for minor reasons, such as loads being “too high.” She labelled this “unconscionable” and accused Israel of “malicious lying” to deny starvation and blame the UN. She further condemned “the lack of even working hours on the other (Israeli) side”, claiming officials “knock off at four in the afternoon.”
Fears of Widespread Famine and Malnutrition
The situation in Gaza is dire, with Robinson drawing parallels to the famine in Somalia in the 1990s. While children in Somalia received the necessary medical aid, she expressed grave concern for the 325,000 severely malnourished children currently in Gaza.
“I don’t know how many of them will die before September,” she warned, emphasizing that sufficient stockpiles of food are ready to be deployed. “Tomorrow they could flood Gaza with necessary food.”
Robinson stressed the urgency of preventing what she described as a potential genocide, stating, “We need to prevent and to punish, not to allow genocide.”
Calls for Sanctions and Trade restrictions
To pressure Israel to improve aid access, Robinson called for targeted sanctions against Netanyahu and all members of his security cabinet. She also urged the European Union to leverage its trade agreement with Israel.
“Trade with Israel is crucial,” she said,advocating for the implementation of Article 2 of the Israeli-EU trade agreement to halt preferential trade with Israel. She believes this would be a significant step towards holding Israel accountable.
International Efforts and the Role of the US
Robinson welcomed the anticipated recognition of Palestine by three G7 countries in September as “really critically important” and called on the League of Arab States “to step up” their involvement.
Remarkably,she suggested that former US President Donald trump could play a pivotal role in securing a ceasefire. “If President Trump would put some of his political energy behind it, it would happen,” she asserted, believing his influence could bring about a resolution ”fairly instantly.”
Israel’s Response and Ongoing Military Operations
Israel has denied responsibility for the growing hunger in Gaza,accusing Hamas militants of stealing aid shipments - a claim Hamas denies. In response to international pressure, Israel announced late last month measures to increase aid flow, including temporary pauses in fighting and designated routes for aid convoys.
Though, recent reports indicate continued military activity. A Hamas official stated that Israeli forces are conducting “aggressive” incursions into Gaza City, following the military’s approval of a new offensive framework. This ongoing conflict further complicates aid delivery and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.