Irish leaders skip this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States, protesting President Donald Trump’s protests calling for Palestinians to evacuate Gaza.
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration is an opportunity for Irish leaders to strengthen foreign diplomatic relations. In the United States in particular, the annual trip to Washington, D.C. commemorates the historical and cultural connections between the countries. This year, the Irish Prime Minister known as Micheal Martin, Taoisiech, will represent Ireland without Sinn Fairin leader Mary Lou Macdonald and Northern Ireland’s first minister.
“I am for the mass expulsion of Palestinian people and the mass expulsion from their homes and homes, as well as many other Irish people. He listened in fear of a call from the US president, McDonald said.
“This approach is a fundamental violation of international law, deeply unstable in the Middle East, and dangerous from the United Nations of peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, Palestinians’ right to self-determination. It’s a deviation.”
Trump’s proposal to move Gaza intensifies debate among Palestinians: “There’s no life left here.”
Sinn Fair leader Mary Lou MacDonald, right, Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, boycotts St. Patrick’s Day in the White House. (Getty/Trump Van Transition Team)
McDonald said he has decided not to attend this year’s White House event “as a principled stance against the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza” while acknowledging the important opportunity to strengthen US-Ireland relations.
O’Neill reflected MacDonald’s comments and vowed to maintain diplomatic relations with the United States while he took an stance on Trump’s comments.
Journalists warn Trump’s “silly” Gaza comments and warn him of “ethnic cleansing”
“I have made the decision as the first minister to not attend an event at the White House this year,” O’Neill announced in the mail. “We all witnessed the broken heart, devastation and suffering in Palestine, and the recent comments by the US President regarding the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza are something I cannot ignore.”
O’Neill said she was “stalked by humanity” by protesting Trump and supporting the Palestinians.
“I will continue to engage with the United States for people’s lives, both politically and economically. But people will look to their leaders to properly confront injustice. People endure unimaginable suffering. I say I was standing firmly on human side.”
McDonald said the Prime Minister supported Martin’s St. Patrick’s visit to Washington, D.C., as he has more access and expected audience with Trump. She told Martin that she would “to use the opportunity to “reflect the views of the Irish people in relation to Palestine in favor of international law and reject the threat to the mass expulsion of Palestinians and the seizure of their lands.” urged.
When asked about the boycott, Martin told reporters, “Sinn Féin does what it always does — it’s engaged in politics. I’m responsible for the country.” Ta.
Northern Ireland’s Democratic Union Party (DUP) called the boycott “reckless” and “myopic.”
“The US is a key economic partner in Northern Ireland,” said DUP Leader RT. Hon. Gavin Robinson. “To turn away from that relationship, especially when continuous international support is needed, is a reckless move to do nothing to advance the interests of Northern Irelanders and businesses.”
Trump said last month at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will “take over the Gaza Strip.” Trump also proposed relocating Palestinians to rebuild Gaza as the “Middle Eastern Riviera.” Trump’s comments sparked international backlash.
President Donald Trump, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left at a meeting at the White House’s Oval Office in Washington, DC on February 4, 2025 (Anna Moneymaker/ Getty Images)
This is because Ireland has been a longtime supporter of Palestinian independence, as many Irish people are similar to the British occupation of Irish. Throughout the war in Gaza, Ireland has advocated a complete Palestinian state and two state solutions. Irish citizens have spoken out against the war in Gaza and have consistently protested in favour of the Palestinians since the war began.
Sinn Fairin is an Irish Republican with historic ties to the Irish Republican army, which has grown in popularity and power in Ireland and Northern Ireland over the past few years. Sinn Fair believes in Ireland’s unity by reverting the British-controlled counties of Northern Ireland to Ireland’s control.
Just as the US played a key role in negotiating ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the US was a key negotiator of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement between the UK and Ireland, ending decades of conflict. brought peace to the region.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The US has the largest Irish diaspora. The US and Ireland maintain close diplomatic relations, and the traditional St. Patrick’s Day event at the White House was an opportunity to celebrate and develop the relationship. Former President Joe Biden visited the presidents of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2023 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
Source link
