Catherine Connolly defends Hamas remarks, insists both Israel and Hamas must be held to account
Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has addressed comments she made about Hamas, saying both sides must be held to account.
Ms Connolly described the Palestinian militant group as "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people" during an interview on Monday.
She told RTÉ radio’s that there cannot be a peaceful solution in Palestine unless both sides disarm, adding that it was important to stop the genocide in Palestine.
Ms Connolly said she “utterly condemned” the actions of Hamas on October 7 and insisted she has never been “equivocal about it.” She also said Israel was "out of control" and acting as a terrorist state.
“First of all, I think we want to acknowledge that genocide is going on in Palestine and we want to acknowledge the deaths that we know about, almost 70,000 people,” she said.
“Every country has a right to self-determine what they do, what type of government they have,” she added.
In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections and assumed administrative control of Gaza Strip and West Bank.
“They are part of the civil society of Palestine. We're reliant on them for figures in relation to the deaths," she said.
When asked if she accepted that Hamas was a terrorist organisation, Ms Connolly replied that Israel had also been described as a terrorist state.
“Both have to sit down at some stage. I mean, let's look at what Israel are doing and call it out for what it is. They're absolutely out of control,” she said.
“Both sides have committed war crimes and hopefully both sides will be held to account. But history did not start on the 7th of October, and at some stage, parties outside of Palestine and Israel must begin to look at what has led to this conflict and how it can be resolved and resolved.
“In the meantime, the slaughter is going on and the genocide is going on.”
The presidential candidate said the issue was at the “top of the list” for everyone she speaks to.
“Of course, all the other issues, housing and health. But the ongoing genocide, people are appealing to us. The 80 something percent of the people that have died have received injuries are civilians.
“Both sides have to disarm. We know that from the conflict in Northern Ireland. We know from Columbia. We know that from all countries. We cannot have a peaceful resolution without disarmament.”
Ms Connolly said Palestinians should decide their own future.
“They have a right to self-determination. They have the right to decide what type of government they want. There are lots of governments that I don't agree with. There are a lot of countries that I do not agree with in the way they treat women or men. But each country has a right to decide themselves.”
On the topic of a united Ireland, Ms Connolly said she has repeatedly visited Northern Ireland in different capacities and met groups “from both sides of the divide.”
She rejected suggestions that her interest in the North and unity was “newfound.”
“I have repeatedly gone up to Northern Ireland. It's something I didn't announce. I went up repeatedly in different capacities,” she said.
She was then asked about her “primary backers,” Sinn Féin – after the party said Irish unity would be at the centre of her presidency.
“I stood as an independent candidate. I declared as an independent candidate. I'm very, delighted that the parties have come in behind me, including Sinn Fein. They're coming in behind me because they see that I have characteristics that they wish to see in a president,” she said.
When asked to expand on her vision of a united Ireland, she said she would invite people from all sides to Áras an Uachtaráin. As president, her role would be to articulate Article 3 of the Constitution, which addresses the concept of a united Ireland.
Addressing how much funding Sinn Féin has given her campaign, she said: “There are strict rules. In relation to any party making contributions to my campaign, we will be closely watching those.
“There have been no pledges from any party, absolutely no pledges. We're working with them as partners in relation to what they can do.”
Ms Connolly added she would hope to serve only one term as president.
“It's hard enough to get in there and I've been out since the end of July, I've been canvassing every day. I haven't really thought about that, but I can't see myself doing two terms. I will do my best to serve the people of Ireland,” she said.
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