Irish MP Gino Kenny: « It’s absolute horror in Gaza ».

Irish MP Gino Kenny. D. R.

Mohsen Abdelmoumen: Gaza has been under bombardment for more than two weeks now. What is your reaction to this carnage under the open sky?

Gino Kenny: Absolute horror. The people of Gaza are being collectively punished by the IDF with most of the world turning their backs on the suffering. 

In your opinion, how is it that the Zionist entity of Israel massacres Palestinian citizens with impunity without the UN or the ICC or other international institutions intervening? Why are leaders like Netanyahu and other Israeli criminals not tried for the war crimes they commit? 

They should be before the ICC for war crimes. For decades the western powers have given Israeli impunity to subjugate Palestinians on a daily basis.  

In your opinion, why does the Western oligarchy unconditionally support the Zionist entity of Israel?

Israel is a proxy of the United States in the Middle East. The western oligarchy are no friends of Palestinians and no friend of the working class internationally. 

In your opinion, aren’t the tragic events in Gaza a central cause for us left-wing activists? And why is the Western and European Left so reluctant to denounce the crimes of the Zionist entity of Israel?

Yes, I agree. There should be no equivocation in the condemnation of Israel especially the left. 

You are an Irish MP and a defender of the Palestinian people, and you have taken a very courageous stand. What impact does the just cause of the Palestinian people have on Irish public opinion?

Irish people understand and have enormous empathy for the Palestinian people and its cause. It’s in our psyche and our history that we have to be on the side of the oppressed because of our history and seeing the terrible treatment of any oppressed people. 

You have carried out a number of actions and demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause, including the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, which is to your credit. In your opinion, why don’t we see this kind of demand in certain so-called Arab-Muslim countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, the United Arab Emirates or Erdogan’s Turkey, some of which have normalised their relations with Israel, while comrade Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, has expelled the Israeli ambassador? Don’t you think this is a betrayal of the Palestinian cause by these leaders?

All countries now should expel any Israeli diplomats and ambassadors. Not to do so would be showing a lack of solidarity for the people of Palestine  

Isn’t the Zionist entity of Israel, which is massacring the Palestinian people in Gaza, the armed wing of US imperialism in the Middle East?

Yes. Israel is heavily armed by the US and their allies. 

Faced with the neo-liberal drift of the oligarchy that rules the world, don’t we need a large militant workers’ and trade union movement to counter the macabre plans of the white-collar gangsters?

The best thing the working classes of the world can do is organize international solidarity strikes in their countries and workers in certain sectors refuse to handle any Israeli goods, a truly international boycott. 

Don’t we need a global anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist front?

Yes. The antiwar movement in 2003 was enormous, this movement can be even bigger than that of 2003 but one the most important things is the organized union movement to get involved. 

Interview realized by Mohsen Abdelmoumen

Who is Gino Kenny?

Gino Kenny is an Irish politician from the People Before Profit-Solidarity party and is a Teachta Dála [TD] Member of Parliament for Dublin’s Mid-West constituency.

As a lifelong socialist activist, Gino has campaigned on a range of issues both locally and nationally. He has fought on a range of issues including the right to housing and the building of public housing on public land, increasing public transport, and supporting workers’ strikes. He has helped hundreds of constituents on issues relating to housing, welfare and access to healthcare.

Along with other members of his party, he signed an open letter to Sinn Féin members urging them to take the necessary action to stop the genocide in Palestine, such as expelling the Israeli ambassador.

Published in French in Algeriepatriotique: https://www.algeriepatriotique.com/2023/11/13/interview-le-depute-irlandais-gino-kenny-cest-lhorreur-absolue-a-gaza/