Michael D Higgins tells EU presidents silence on Gaza would be a ‘moral failure’

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

President Michael D Higgins has written to other European presidents to say that silence on Gaza would be a moral failure.

He said that while Israel has a right to defend itself, they cannot let the “horrific” attack on October 7th, 2023, “provide a licence or cover” for the scale of civilian deaths in Gaza.

Writing a letter to his counterparts on Monday, Mr Higgins outlined the scale of the suffering of Palestinians in the enclave.

He cited Unicef figures that 6,500 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in June alone, with a further 5,000 admitted in the first two weeks of July.

He said a reported 80 children have died of malnutrition and quoted Pope Leo XIV’s call on the international community to respond urgently.

Mr Higgins wrote the letter to the Arraiolos Group, an informal organisation representing presidents of EU countries which meets once a year.

The political forum is named after the Portuguese town where the first meeting took place in 2003.

“I am sure that we all remember with horror the moment when news broke of the horrific atrocities carried out by Hamas as we returned from our meeting of the Arraiolos Group in Porto in October 2023,” he said.

“These atrocities were rightly condemned by all member states. We were not silent and called for the unconditional release of all hostages.

“While Israel has a right to defend itself, we cannot let that horrific event provide a licence or cover for the totally unacceptable loss of life, including from malnutrition and dehydration by infants and mothers that is now being perpetrated in Gaza.”

Mr Higgins called on non-executive presidents in the Arraiolos Group to add their voice to those calling for an end to the loss of life of civilians, the unconditional release of all hostages and unimpeded access to aid.

“I also firmly believe that, collectively, the Arraiolos Group has a strong voice and leadership role to offer in relation to what is happening in Gaza.

“Silence, failure to take an initiative will be rightly construed as a moral failure.

“As a fellow member of the Group of Arraiolos and your colleague, I would respectfully ask the group to consider adding its powerful voice to the international community calls for a halt to the avoidable loss of life of civilians in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages and full-unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.”

Mr Higgins also highlighted the destruction of 80 per cent of croplands and wells in Gaza, and the dehydration and malnutrition of 20,000 mothers in Gaza.

After 14 years in office, Mr Higgins’ second and final term in office is due to come to an end in the autumn.