President Biden on Sunday used the St. Patrick's Day celebrations normally held at the White House to highlight growing international concerns, including from the Irish, about the humanitarian situation of Palestinians amid Israeli military action in Gaza. admitted.
In response, Mr. Biden, along with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach), who is an outspoken critic of Israel's war against Hamas, said, “It is urgently necessary to expand humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and reach a ceasefire agreement.'' On that point, the Taoiseach and I agree.” to the October 7th terrorist attack. As hundreds of Irish American leaders and government officials applauded, Biden said a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians was “the only path to lasting peace and security.” .
The White House celebration, replete with green dye, shamrocks and Guinness, typically saw Biden step away from speeches about foreign policy and threats to American democracy to celebrate his Irish-American heritage. It becomes an opportunity. However, Mr Varadkar made clear his intention to raise concerns about the Middle East war with the US president during his visit.
In a sense, the Prime Minister was addressing an audience within Ireland. Ireland is one of the most supportive European countries towards Palestinians, given its history of resisting British rule. Ireland was the first European Union country to call for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the last to allow an Israeli embassy to open in the country.
“Mr. President, as you know, the Irish people are deeply concerned about the catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes in Gaza, and as I travel around the world, I hear leaders asking why the Irish people should not People often ask me why I feel so much sympathy for the Palestinian people,'' Mr Varadkar said. He said. “The answer is simple: we see our history through their eyes.”
Mr Varadkar said he supported the government's efforts to agree a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages, but directly criticized Israel's bombing tactics. Biden has taken a tougher tone toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days, but the White House has said there are no plans to use military aid to Israel.
“The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine, shelter and most of all they need the bombing to stop,” Mr Varadkar said. “This must stop on both sides. The hostages will be returned home and humanitarian relief will be allowed.”
The comments came after Mr Varadkar said Israel was “blind with anger” after Hamas killed 1,200 people and seized more than 200 on October 7. be. Varadkar also warned of an invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that is currently home to 1.5 million people. Displaced Palestinians are in violation of international law. The war with Hamas has already killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, many of them women and children, according to local health authorities.
The White House also said it would not support Israeli military operations in Rafah without a broader plan to evacuate displaced Palestinians from the area. Neighboring Egypt has announced that it will not accept any Palestinians.
Despite heightened concerns over the Middle East wars and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the two leaders took time on Sunday to celebrate the history between their countries.
Never one to shy away from leaning into his heritage, Biden told the audience gathered in the East Room how grateful he was to visit the home of his Irish ancestors in Ballina last year. The crowd, many dressed in green and drinking stout with the white foam stamped with the shape of the White House, listened intently, often cheering at the many references to Ireland.
“The only people who are nostalgic for the future are the Irish,” Biden said, drawing laughter from the audience. “We're always looking for the next horizon. That's also a very American trait. It's further evidence of the deep ties between Ireland and the United States.
The two leaders paid tribute to John F. Kennedy, the first Irish Catholic president of the United States. Varadkar quoted the former president, and Biden named Joseph P. Kennedy III, the former president's great-nephew and US special envoy to Northern Ireland, from the audience, drawing the most applause of the event. Ta.
Mr Varadkar also spoke directly to Mr Biden by quoting another “courageous Irish-American”.
“This is about our commitment to children who deserve the chance to succeed,” Mr Varadkar said. “The promises we make to each other. A sacred promise to work for a better future for all. Those are the words of Beau Biden.”
Biden bowed his head with tears streaming down his cheeks as the crowd applauded when he mentioned his eldest son, who died of brain cancer in 2015.
