Comhlámh is horrified to witness the escalating violence in Lebanon, a chilling extension of an expansionist agenda that threatens not only the sovereignty of Lebanon but also the dignity and rights of the Palestinian people. This surge in violence, alongside the broader escalation across the region, including Yemen, further entrenches the system of genocide and settler-colonialism, impacting multiple nations and their shared struggle for justice.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian, Lebanese and Yemeni peoples, firmly condemning the violence of occupation and the destruction it brings. This deepening humanitarian crisis and crimes against humanity cannot be normalised. Every life lost and every community displaced highlights the urgent need for action.
As a small NGO committed to justice and human rights, we express our strong support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Occupied Territories Bill, which aims to halt the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements. However, these actions are not enough. The interconnected struggles across the region demand a comprehensive global response.
Much like the global movement that helped to bring down apartheid in South Africa, we must push further. It is time for a complete ban on all trade with Israel. Anything less risks enabling the occupation and reinforcing the status quo of oppression, violence, and genocide. We call on our government to take bolder, more decisive action to support an immediate ceasefire, halt the use of Irish airspace for military purposes, cease all trading with Israel and hold the Occupation accountable for its violations of human rights and war crimes. Words are no longer enough; we need concrete political action that prioritises human life and dignity.
To our community, allies, and partners: we urge you to speak out. This moment demands not only solidarity but meaningful resistance against the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people and the struggles faced by the Lebanese and Yemeni people. Support the BDS movement. Advocate for a total ban on trade with Israel. Demand accountability from our government. Call for an end to military planes traversing Irish airspace, a practice that supports the global war machine and undermines our commitments to peace and neutrality.
We are at a critical juncture in history, and we must not turn away. Crimes against humanity are not just atrocities inflicted on one group—they are violations that tear at the very fabric of our shared existence. When any person is dehumanised, oppressed, or stripped of their dignity, it is a wound inflicted on all of us. These crimes shatter the principles of justice, compassion, and humanity that bind us together. To remain silent in the face of such suffering is to accept the degradation of our collective soul. Each act of violence that goes unchallenged is a betrayal of our shared humanity, and in every broken life, we lose a part of ourselves.
When we choose not to speak out against injustices, we inadvertently perpetuate the systems that enable them to thrive.
Every act of courage to speak out is a step toward healing, a reaffirmation of our commitment to a just society, and a recognition that the dignity of one is intertwined with the dignity of all.
Take Action. Demand Change.