In a statement on October 8 Sinn Féin Poblachtach said: “This past weekend has seen our media filled with a variety of headlines condemning the ‘terrorist’ attack on Israel, citing the ‘murders’ of civilians and rights of Israel to ‘defend’ itself. These headlines belie the actual truth of what is happening. 
“Soldiers from Gaza have indeed attacked areas controlled by Israeli troops, and for sure civilians have been injured, killed and taken captive, but what is happening is simply a reaction by Hamas soldiers to the ever-increasing repression of the Palestinian people in recent weeks and months and the occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, the latter in contravention of UN charter. Be under no illusion, the terrorists in these areas are the Zionist soldiers of Israel.

“The language used by media and politicians alike differs greatly when dealing with the opposing sides, armed Palestinians are ‘terrorists’ while armed Israelis are ‘defence forces’.
This is deliberate to engender sympathy with one side and hatred for the other. 
“Israel has occupied Palestinian territory for decades; they have, by degree, increased the amount of lands they occupy. Year-on-year they have oppressed, imprisoned and murdered thousands of men, women and children with impunity.

“Israel has got to a stage where the lands they claim at their own operate an apartheid system, where Palestinians are not allowed to travel on certain roads, not allowed entrance to certain parks and facilities. To get to their land they often have to go by the longest route as the apartheid wall blocks them for just walking onto their land on the other side. Many of their olive trees are cut down to make way for another Israeli-only road or an Israeli settlement. Palestinians have been thrown out on the side of the street to make way for a settler family.

“Inside Gaza itself everything is controlled by the Zionist regime from outside, electricity, water and other utilities are often shut off without notice. All goods going into Gaza must be cleared by the same regime, even those crossing from Egypt, this includes school equipment, medicines and hospital equipment. This past year some Gazan students who were offered scholarships outside of Palestine were denied travel permits to leave Gaza. 
“While the timing of this weekend’s attack took most people by surprise, it was surely only a matter of time before the people rose up. Denied all hope of a proper future except that of one under occupation and of daily struggle, the people had little choice. 

“What is needed now is for a just peace, a unitary and workable Palestine with the
recognised borders set out in UN charters, the end of settler outposts. As Irish Republicans, we have always stood with the people of Palestine and their just call for their homeland.
“We deny the claims by a vocal few that this call is akin to antisemitism. Such calls are cheap attempts to mask the decades of murders and impunity. We must callout the decades of oppression meted out to the people of Palestine if there is to be any peace with justice for all.

“Sinn Féin Poblachtach calls on the UN to end the impunity of Israel, to fulfil its mandate. We call on the US to cease the blocking of the UN in dealing with Israel and to stop arming the Zionist regime.”

Ranganna:International News, [RSF News] Statements