Gardaí have opened a criminal damage investigation after Gaza protest graffiti was daubed on Iveagh House in Dublin, the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Gaza BDS now” – a reference to the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign led by supporters of the Palestinian cause against Israel – could be seen displayed in red paint on the building on Saturday morning.
It is not the first time the building has been targeted by protesters. Last November, red paint was thrown on Iveagh House during a pro-Palestine demonstration.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin strongly criticised the act at the time, and highlighted the role Irish diplomats have played in Middle Eastern crisis.
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The latest incident comes in the wake of Taoiseach Simon Harris writing to the Attorney General to seek fresh legal advice on the trade agreement between the EU and Israel, after calling for the agreement to be suspended.
Mr Harris and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez earlier this year asked European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to review whether Tel Aviv was in breach of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which is conditional on respect for human rights, given the vast civilian death toll in Gaza.
Earlier this week, Mr Martin said Ireland will cease purchases of Israeli military equipment while ongoing contracts will also be put under review.
The move makes Ireland the first EU country to cease defence purchases from Israel since the war started almost a year ago.
A march for Palestine takes place on Saturday in Dublin from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dáil, gathering from 1pm.
Gardaí said they are investigating an incident of criminal damage that occurred at Iveagh House on the night of Friday 30th August, 2024.
Gardaí said they received reports of criminal damage and attended the scene at St Stephen’s Green. Garda investigations are ongoing.
In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the building had since been cleaned and the incident had been referred to An Garda Síochána.
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