Former President Higgins warns EU of moral loss over Gaza

Former President Michael D. Higgins said the European Union is losing its moral compass on the Gaza issue during an interview in Cork.

Higgins, 85, explained that his left ankle remains unsteady after a stroke in February 2024, but he continues to work on human‑rights advocacy, poetry and public commentary. He recently received an honorary doctorate from Munster Technological University for his contributions to Irish public life, the arts, culture, education and human rights.

Gaza and EU policy

Higgins criticised the EU for lacking a clear moral stance on Gaza, describing the situation as “genocide” and noting the destruction of agricultural land that once made the enclave self‑sufficient in fruit and vegetables. He said he has “paid a high price” for speaking out against Israeli actions and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that the controversy has damaged both his reputation and that of Ireland.

The former president also condemned former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s involvement with Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, arguing Blair failed to support Palestinian interests during his time on the Middle East Quartet.

Higgins highlighted the recent detention of 80 volunteers, including U.S. and Israeli participants, by the Israel Defence Forces while assisting with the olive harvest near Bethlehem, and questioned the viability of a two‑state solution without clear borders for a Palestinian state.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: George Pak / Pexels.