Irish campaign group Uplift issued an ultimatum to the Irish government on Wednesday 30 October.

The ultimatum calls on the Irish government to immediately suspend all military and dual-use trade with Israel, along with the use of Irish airspace to transport weapons to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Phoenix Law Group, which represents Uplift, said in a statement: “If the government fails to stop these practices within 14 days, then the group will proceed to issue formal legal proceedings against the Irish government and take a case to the High Court.

“Uplift has received an expert legal opinion which shows that the Irish government may be at risk of breaching a range of domestic, European and international laws, including failing to meet their obligations under the Genocide Convention.”

BREAKING: Uplift has just issued the Irish government with a 14-day ultimatum and a formal request for the immediate suspension of all:

1. military trade with Israeli arms companies
2. dual-use export licenses to Israel
3. using Irish airspace to transport weapons to the IDF pic.twitter.com/hvryWmJi7P

— Uplift (@UpliftIRL) October 30, 2024

Uplift describes itself as “a people-powered campaigning community of over 342,000 people taking coordinated action for progressive change across Ireland”. It is said to be an independent self-sustaining organization.

In its letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris on Wednesday, Phoenix Law wrote: “We are writing formally to seek immediate action regarding your current position:

“a. to grant export licenses to Israel,

“b. continue to hold existing contracts that pay Israeli state weapons corporations for drones and drone support, and

“c. to allow weapons, components and other relevant items and/or personnel to transit and/or use Irish airports and/or airspace.

“The purpose of this correspondence is to bring our customers’ concerns to your attention and to give you time to address them through action.

“If the necessary steps are not taken, our client intends to bring a judicial review action to compel you to take the necessary steps required by law.”

The document was delivered to government buildings in Dublin on Wednesday and was addressed to Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Trade Minister Peter Burke.

The details, Phoenix Law says, focus largely on the increase in military trade between Ireland and Israel over the past year, as well as the regular use of Irish airspace by airlines transporting weapons to the IDF.

Darragh Mackin, human rights lawyer and director of Phoenix Law, which advised the Uplift campaign, said: “EU laws on trade in military technology and equipment with countries that commit human rights abuses are quite clear. So are Ireland’s obligations under the genocide convention’.

Mackin added: “The increased level of military trade over the past year, as well as the use of Irish airspace to transport weapons to the IDF, puts the Irish government at risk of breaching a range of national and international laws. these laws also apply to other EU countries such as Germany and France.”

Brian Cuthbert of campaign organization Uplift said: “The situation is crazy when you stop to think about it.

“On the one hand, Micheál Martin has promised to intervene in the ICJ case in South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide, while on the other hand, he has doubled the amount of money his department pays to arms companies Israeli state. You can’t have it. both ways.”

Cuthbert went on to say: “People all over Ireland have been trying desperately to end the appalling violence in Gaza. The Irish government has long benefited from this goodwill on the global stage, but when it comes to taking real action. they went and increased military trade with Israel.

The action takes place about a month after the Irish publication The Ditch reported that ammunition was being smuggled across Ireland. The publication has since posted several stories making similar claims. Wednesday, the Ditch reported that over a ton of weapons were transported to Israel via Ireland last week.