Israel will “never change” unless there is global boycott of the country, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said. 

This week, dozens of TDs and Senators signed a letter urging FIFA and UEFA to ban Israeli teams from taking part in competitions.

Legislators said the events in Gaza amounted to “an unprecedented massacre against the Palestinian people”.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said there is historical precedent for a boycott.

“We have to put pressure on international sporting bodies to do to Israel what was done to South Africa,” he said.

“[South Africa] were isolated politically, in sport, artistically, economically and they eventually came to their senses and apartheid was overturned.

“Israel will never change and they will keep doing what they’re doing until they are isolated on every single level.”

Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip following Israel airstrikes, 15/12/2023. Image: UPI / Alamy Stock Photo

Last month, Ireland played Israel at basketball - despite calls for a boycott from supporters and even some players.

Deputy Ó Ríordáin said it should no longer be left to individuals to boycott Israel.

“We can’t have a situation where individual governing bodies for sports and individual countries are pressured not to fulfil fixtures,” he said.

“What we need to do is ask the overall, overarching bodies to make that stance and that’s why we’ve put those concerns to FIFA and UEFA.”

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland has repeatedly denied accusations that the IDF is committing genocide in Gaza, pointing out the conflict began when Hamas killed 1,200 people on October 7th last year.

Main image: Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD. Photo: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie