Latest news with #Callamard
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Amnesty International chief slams 'fearmongering' after Ibec comments on Occupied Territories Bill
There has been 'fearmongering' in attempts by some bodies to 'derail' the introduction of the Occupied Territories Bill, the head of Amnesty International has said. The organisation's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, has praised the Irish Government for its plans to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ms Callamard said the EU has 'betrayed its principles through its shameful decision not to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement'. 'The EU's refusal to take action to hold Israel accountable highlights the need for Ireland and other likeminded member states to urgently take unilateral or concerted steps to bring their actions in line with international law, which takes precedence over both EU and national law,' Ms Callamard said. 'Despite the fearmongering and efforts by certain parties to derail the bill, Ireland must stay firm in its convictions and commitment to justice." It comes after comments from the director general of Ibec, Danny McCoy, criticising the Government for introducing the bill, warning it is damaging Irish interests in countries like the US. 'We're not talking about millions here,' Mr McCoy said. 'This is not about actually helping in any material way. It's symbolism and moral positioning, and so on. However, with moral positions, you can also reveal hypocrisy.' Ms Callamard said passing the legislation would 'set a strong example' to other EU countries to unilaterally suspend co-operation with Israel. Ms Callamard said: It cannot be 'business as usual' while Palestinians are starved and slaughtered while seeking aid or under relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza, or killed and forcibly displaced by state-backed Israeli settler violence, devastating military operations and suffocating movement restrictions in the West Bank. 'From its own experiences of colonization, famine and conflict to its leading role in international efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, Ireland has repeatedly shown that it can stand up to bullies and consistently punched above its weight in global diplomacy.' The Oireachtas Justice Committee is currently undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill, with witnesses appearing in recent weeks to discuss the proposed laws. There has been some criticism of the legislation for not going far enough, as it only deals with trade and not services. Read More
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Refusal to suspend EU-Israel deal ‘cruel and unlawful betrayal'
It comes as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday to decide whether to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a trade and cooperation deal that gives Israel preferential access to the EU market. Member states were presented with 10 options, including: Full suspension of the agreement The EU suspension of its preferential trade and/or research pillars An arms embargo Sanctions on Israeli ministers Halting visa-free travel for Israeli citizens to the EU Banning trade with Israeli settlements However, none of the options gathered the necessary support during the meeting. Reacting to the decision, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard said: 'The EU's refusal to suspend its agreement with Israel is a cruel and unlawful betrayal of the European project and vision, predicated on upholding international law and fighting authoritarian practices, of the European Union's own rules and of the human rights of Palestinians. READ MORE: Activists 'to defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts' at Edinburgh protest "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU's history." Callamard (below) said European leaders had been given the opportunity to take "a principled stand" against Israel's crimes, but instead gave it "a greenlight to continue its genocide in Gaza, its unlawful occupation of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and its system of apartheid against Palestinians". Callamard added: 'The EU's own review has clearly found that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the terms of the Association Agreement. Yet, instead of taking measures to stop it and prevent their own complicity, member states chose to maintain a preferential trade deal over respecting their international obligations and saving Palestinian lives. 'This is more than political cowardice. Every time the EU fails to act, the risk of complicity in Israel's actions grows. This sends an extremely dangerous message to perpetrators of atrocity crimes that they will not only go unpunished but be rewarded. 'Victims are entitled to far more than empty words." Callamard urged member states to take action individually or unilaterally to suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its violations of international law, including a comprehensive embargo on the export of arms and surveillance equipment and related technology, and a total ban on trade with, and investment in, Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
EU refusal to suspend Israel deal is ‘cruel and unlawful betrayal'
It comes as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday to decide whether to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Member states were presented with 10 options, including: Full suspension of the agreement The EU suspension of its preferential trade and/or research pillars An arms embargo Sanctions on Israeli ministers Halting visa-free travel for Israeli citizens to the EU Banning trade with Israeli settlements None of these options gathered the necessary support during the meeting. READ MORE: Activists 'to defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts' at Edinburgh protest Reacting to the decision, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard said: 'The EU's refusal to suspend its agreement with Israel is a cruel and unlawful betrayal – of the European project and vision, predicated on upholding international law and fighting authoritarian practices, of the European Union's own rules and of the human rights of Palestinians. "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU's history." Callamard (below) said European leaders had been given the opportunity to take "a principled stand" against Israel's crimes, but instead gave it "a greenlight to continue its genocide in Gaza, its unlawful occupation of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and its system of apartheid against Palestinians". Callamard added: 'The EU's own review has clearly found that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the terms of the Association Agreement. Yet, instead of taking measures to stop it and prevent their own complicity, member states chose to maintain a preferential trade deal over respecting their international obligations and saving Palestinian lives. 'This is more than political cowardice. Every time the EU fails to act, the risk of complicity in Israel's actions grows. This sends an extremely dangerous message to perpetrators of atrocity crimes that they will not only go unpunished but be rewarded. 'Victims are entitled to far more than empty words." Callamard urged member states to take action individually or unilaterally to suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its violations of international law, including a comprehensive embargo on the export of arms and surveillance equipment and related technology, and a total ban on trade with, and investment in, Israel's illegal settlements in the OPT.
Middle East Eye
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Francesca Albanese sanctions ‘create chilling effect' on UN experts, warn rapporteurs
Current and former UN rapporteurs on Thursday denounced US sanctions on Francesca Albanese as an unprecedented measure targeting a critical part of the United Nations' human rights system. 'It's a dangerous precedent because it creates a chilling effect for all special rapporteurs,' said Agnes Callamard, head of human rights giant Amnesty International and a former UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. 'It undermines their independence and their commitment to do their job without fear or pressure of any kind,' she told Middle East Eye. 'There is also the risk that other governments may engage in copycat if they are unhappy or dissatisfied with a special rapporteur's report.' UN special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to monitor, report on and advise on specific human rights issues or country situations. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Nevertheless, their effectiveness can be limited by a lack of political will or cooperation from states, particularly when access is denied or recommendations are ignored. Special rapporteurs enjoy diplomatic immunity under international law, including protection from legal measures such as sanctions. However, due to their criticism of human rights policies, they are often subject to retaliation by states. Some, including Callamard and Albanese, have been declared persona non grata or threatened with lawsuits. Yet the sanctions targeting Albanese's mandate mark a first. 'Special rapporteurs have been around since the 1980s and, frankly, I am not aware of any one of them having been sanctioned in that way,' said Callamard. Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, said the sanctions 'send a chilling message'. 'Rapporteurs are independent experts who do their jobs pro bono and need support for their critical work,' he told MEE. 'I urge immediate reversal of such sanctions. If allowed to stand, such sanctions send a chilling message: that any attempt to uphold law and speak truthfully will be met by a crackdown.' Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, said the sanctions have targeted Albanese over her 'legitimate work in defence of Palestinian human rights'. 'States must enable, not impede, the work of United Nations independent experts,' he told MEE. 'I've hit a nerve' Speaking to MEE's live show on Thursday, a day after the sanctions, Albanese said she remains undeterred. 'It looks like I've hit a nerve,' she said. 'My concern is there are people dying in Gaza while you and I are speaking, and the United Nations are totally unable to intervene.' The sanctions follow Albanese's scathing report published on 30 June, in which she named over 60 companies - including major US technology firms like Google, Amazon and Microsoft - she said were involved in "the transformation of Israel's economy of occupation to an economy of genocide". The report called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and national judicial systems to investigate and prosecute corporate executives and companies. It also called on UN member states to pursue sanctions and asset freezes. Albanese is one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's war on Gaza, which she has labelled a genocide. Over the past 20 months, she has backed international justice efforts seeking to hold Israel accountable for its actions. She is the latest target of US sanctions linked to the work of the ICC, which in November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, and four of the court's judges have also been sanctioned by the Trump administration over investigations into the US and its ally, Israel.
Middle East Eye
04-07-2025
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Israel using starvation and aid to inflict genocide in Gaza: Amnesty
Amnesty International has condemned Israel for deliberately using starvation as a weapon for war in Gaza, with the controversial Israel-US backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) serving as a tool to deepen the humanitarian catastrophe and sustain the ongoing genocide. In a report released on Thursday, the UK-based rights organisation said Israel is systematically inflicting starvation and disease on Palestinians by manipulating humanitarian relief efforts. The GHF, an organisation imposed on Gaza by Washington and Tel Aviv, has not only been used to sidestep the United Nations but has also, according to Amnesty, played a central role in militarising aid. 'Israel's genocide has continued unabated in Gaza, including through the infliction of conditions of life that have created a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point,' said Amnesty's secretary general, Agnes Callamard. The report compiled from "heartbreaking testimonies" from medical staff, parents of malnourished children, and displaced Palestinians paint a harrowing picture of extreme "starvation and desperation". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Their accounts provide further evidence of the catastrophic suffering caused by Israel's restrictions on life-saving aid, its militarised aid scheme, forced displacement, relentless bombardment, and destruction of essential infrastructure. "This devastating daily loss of life as desperate Palestinians try to collect aid is the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution,' said Callamard.
