Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has asserted that Hamas must have no involvement in the leadership of any future Palestinian state, as he rejected recent remarks made by Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly, speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, said Hamas is “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people” while criticising British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Earlier today, she also stated that both Israel and Hamas “committed war crimes.”
Appearing on RTÉ’s Six One News yesterday, Mr Gavin acknowledged that “Hamas have not been good to the Palestinian people,” but insisted that under a two-state solution, it would be up to Palestinians to elect their representatives, reports RTE.
Mr Harris reaffirmed Ireland’s stance on Hamas, describing it as “absolutely crystal clear.”
“Hamas is despicable, illegal, terrorist organisation that has brought nothing but misery and pain to the people of Israel and the people of Palestine. It offers the people of Palestine no future, and indeed, when I stood on the steps of Government buildings with Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan and when we recognised, as three parties then in Government, the State of Palestine, I specifically said that we were doing so in the hope of showing there was a viable alternative to Hamas,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Harris continued: “There can be no role for a terrorist organisation in the future governance…Let me be really clear here at the United Nations today, Ireland, the Irish Government, the people of Ireland have no truck with Hamas, no time for Hamas. They need to get off the stage and that is the position, end of.”
He also remarked on Ms Connolly’s choice not to take questions from journalists at a campaign event, saying “it’s always good to take questions.”
“Obviously when the Fine Gael candidate had her campaign launch, she rightly sat in a room and took questions for a long period of time… In fairness to Catherine Connolly, I heard her on radio this morning. So, I know she is out taking questions. It’s for her to decide how she wishes to conduct that. But this campaign is coming in fast now … and therefore, you know, obviously the level understandably of media and public interest in the in the campaign will increase,” Mr Harris said, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly reiterated earlier today that both Israel and Hamas “committed war crimes”, following her previous remark that Hamas is “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.”
Referring to those remarks, she said she has denounced Hamas’ actions, especially the 7 October 2023 attack, calling it “absolutely unacceptable” and highlighting that war crimes have been committed by both parties and accountability is necessary.
Ms Connolly has now officially entered the race for next month’s Presidential Election, having submitted her nomination paperwork at 3pm today, just ahead of tomorrow’s noon deadline, reports RTE.
When asked about her Hamas comments while handing in her nomination at the Customs House, she said that “every single conflict is different.”
She acknowledged Hamas as a terrorist group and condemned “October seventh was outrageous”, but maintained that democratic processes allow people to vote for their preferred representatives, reports RTE.
In the same press event, Deputy Connolly denied avoiding media scrutiny and said she would “like to see what other candidates” have faced the same level of interrogation.
During her appearance on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said: “They [Hamas] were elected by the people the last time there was an election, there was overwhelming support for them back in 2006 or 2007. And they are part of the civil society of Palestine.
“But history did not start on the seventh of October and at some stage parties outside of Palestine and Israel must begin to look at what has led to this conflict and how it can be resolved and resolved it must. In the meantime, the slaughter is going on and the genocide is going on and I’ve travelled the country. I’ll be travelling it again and it’s the top of the list for everyone that I’m talking to, of course all the other issues, housing and health, but the ongoing genocide, people are appealing to us, please stop it. The 80-something per cent of the people that have died or have received injuries are civilians,” reports RTE.
Ms Connolly agreed that Hamas should be labelled a terrorist organisation.
However, she added: “Israel is acting as a terrorist state. Both have to sit down at some stage. I mean, let’s look at what Israel are doing and call it out for what it is.
“They’re absolutely out of control,” reports RTE.
Her original comment that Hamas is “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people” was made during an interview on BBC Radio Ulster.
That statement came in the context of her criticism of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s view that Hamas should be barred from participating in any future Palestinian governance.
She argued that external leaders should not decide who governs Palestine, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy stated that Hamas is “part of the situation in Palestine and there is no doubt about that.”
He explained that Catherine Connolly had acknowledged the attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023 as war crimes, describing them as abhorrent and indefensible.
Mr Carthy stressed that any peaceful resolution will require dialogue between both Hamas and Israel.
“From an Irish perspective, people have come through a peace process. We know the most difficult part of building peace…is knowing people have to talk with others who you profoundly disagree with. The truth of the matter is that the people of Gaza elected Hamas whether we like that or not,” reports RTE.
In response to Connolly’s remarks, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore emphasised the importance of the Palestinian right to choose their own leaders.
She said this is a “key principle in international law.”
“For us, we have consistently condemned Hamas. We were one of the first parties condemning them after 7 October,” reports RTE.
Still, Ms Whitmore acknowledged the intricate nature of peacebuilding efforts.
“As part of any peace process, people who were on different sides of any war or aggression – they do eventually have to sit down and talk,” she added, reports RTE.
She supported the idea of a “free and fair election” where Palestinians can elect their own representatives.
However, she noted that achieving this is “such a long way away.”
Labour Party TD Ged Nash said he welcomed Connolly’s clarification that she considers Hamas a terrorist group, reports RTE.
“What she did today is clarify. I wouldn’t have used the language that she used. She could have been clearer,” reports RTE.
Mr Nash stressed that it is not his place to dictate who appears on the Palestinian ballot.
“It is obviously up to the Palestinian people who they vote for,” he said, reports RTE.
He said Labour’s stance is that groups like Hamas “wouldn’t have a function in the future governance arrangements of a place like Palestine.”
Ms Connolly said she has long been engaged with Northern Ireland and that her interest in the region is not recent.
“I have repeatedly gone to Northern Ireland in different capacities but it’s something I didn’t announce. I went up as chair of the Irish committee. I went up in my own personal capacity. I’ve met groups on both sides of the divide, and I’d like to say diverse communities,” she said, reports RTE.
She mentioned that she is conscious of the Irish Constitution and Article Three, and any steps toward unification would require government-level decisions.
She added that the President’s role is to give voice to Article Three.
She expressed openness to the discussion ahead and looked forward to participating in it, reports RTE.
At the same time, she said everything must be handled respectfully and with mutual agreement.
“All parties were involved in the Good Friday Agreement and civil society also played a huge role,” Ms Connolly said, adding that everyone must be involved moving forward, reports RTE.
“It would have to be that everybody is involved equally. Absolutely, we have to respect both every tradition and every community in the six counties,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms Connolly expressed gratitude for the political support she has received, particularly from Sinn Féin, saying they see in her the qualities they want in a President.
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