Victor Boyhan urges debate, warns against starvation in Gaza
Victor Boyhan addressed senators on 20 May 2025 about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning against the use of starvation as a weapon and urging a parliamentary debate. He insisted that humanitarian aid must not be conditioned on political or military aims and called on the leader to raise the matter with the government.
Opening warning
He began by quoting a letter that pleaded: "Please do not allow international humanitarian law in relation to Gaza to be dismantled on your watch. It will be a stain on Europe forever." Boyhan framed that warning as central to the House's responsibility.
Reference to presidential address
Boyhan cited the president's remarks to the National Famine Commemoration 2025, quoting the president that "Famine is a horrific reality in so many parts of the world. It is a great human failure." He noted the president's reference to "starvation ... being used as an instrument of war" to underline the gravity of the situation.
Historical parallels and Irish response
Drawing on reflections about Gortemore, Boyhan said revisiting history revealed "nuanced genocide" and argued that such experience explains why Irish people have often been front-line advocates for human rights and humanitarian response. He praised Irish humanitarian workers at home and abroad and highlighted the unity of the Irish diaspora around humanitarian causes.
Humanitarian concerns and call for debate
Boyhan described Gaza's escalation and the destruction affecting tens of thousands of civilians as "horror played out on our television screens every night." He warned that "too many voices remain silent in this House, in the Dáil, in the European Parliament," and urged the leader to discuss with the government the importance of holding a debate in the House, in Shanadaran, on Gaza and the international humanitarian response.
Aid must not be conditional
He was unequivocal that the supply of humanitarian aid must never be used as leverage, stating that starvation must not be allowed to be used as a bargaining chip and calling on colleagues to join in pressing for a formal parliamentary discussion.
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Senators, I received a letter today, and I'll quote just one sentence from it. Please do not allow international humanitarian law in relation to Gaza to be dismantled on your watch. It will be a stain on Europe forever. And how true those words are. In his address to the presidential the other day, to the National Famine Commemoration 2025, in which a number of my colleagues on the left were present, indeed you too, Kerheerlech, were present, and I took the time to reflect on what the president had to say and looked on the president's website this morning to be 100% sure of the facts that I wish to quote. And in his address, the president of Ireland referred to forced starvation. He said, and I quote, Famine is a horrific reality in so many parts of the world. It is a great human failure. Starvation, he said, starvation being used as an instrument of war. In many ways, I suppose I drew from all of that analogy and conversation with us on Gortemore, and how really, when you look back on it now, as you revisit history, it was nuanced genocide. And in many ways, I think it feeds into our learning and our past experience, why we Irish people have gone to the front line, why we have been strong advocates for human rights and humanitarian response. Our spirits were never quenched. Yes, many of our hearts were broken. Our families were dispersed. But we know one thing about the Irish diaspora. It unites around the common cause. And I give great credit here today to the Irish humanitarian workers across the country and indeed across the world. Gaza's intense escalation in the use of weapons and destruction resulting in its tens of thousands of civilians. It is horror played out on our television screens every night. I finish with just these few words. Too many voices remain silent in this House, in the Dáil, in the European Parliament. The supply of humanitarian aid must never be a condition for political or military aims. Starvation must never be allowed to be used as a bargaining chip. I ask and join my other colleagues in calling on you, leader, to discuss with the government the importance of having a debate in this House, in Shanadaran, in relation to Gaza and the international humanitarian response that must be called up to support people. Thank you.
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