THE Communist Party of Ireland reaffirms our unwavering support for the steadfast people of Palestine as they confront the full force of US imperialism embodied in Donald Trump’s right-wing, ultra-nationalist administration. 

West Asia has become the front line of the international anti-imperial struggle and there has been a seismic shift in the balance of forces in the region over the past 12 months. From the terrorist attacks against Lebanon to the regime change in Syria, there have been some gains for US imperialism through its proxy Israel, and the return of Trump to the White House will likely further isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran and embolden the zionist regime.

The recent ceasefire in Gaza has, as a minimum, stopped the horrific genocidal military assault of the US-backed zionist regime on a defenceless and confined population. The killing will not end with the ceasefire: the destruction left in its wake will lead to more deaths of innocent Palestinians from starvation, dehydration, exposure and disease. The death toll in Gaza has been revised upward to take account of over 14,000 people who are unaccounted for and presumed dead. The Gaza Health Ministry now reports the death toll as 61,709 people, at least 70 per cent of whom are children and women.