In November 2024, the Irish government finally did what most of the Western world is too scared to do: they recognised Palestine as a sovereign state and opened full diplomatic ties with Ramallah.

Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the Palestinian Head of Mission in Ireland, became the first ever Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland. At the same time, the Israelis packed up their embassy and slid out the back door. It was a strange but not unpredictable response.

The new ambassador’s diplomatic career began in 1995, when she was appointed Assistant Chief of Protocol in the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was then posted to Cyprus, where she picked up a doctorate in Political Marketing. Seven years ago, she landed in Ireland, as deputy to the former Head of Mission. She recently presented her credentials for the job of ambassador to President Michael D. Higgins.

The pictures in her office, of Yassar Arafat and current Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas aka Abu Mazen, tell a story too.

“I never expected in my life that I will meet him,” she says of Arafat.

She describes him as “the icon of the Palestinian people.” To her, they stand side by side with Nelson Mandela. “Those are the leaders that inspired so many millions around the world.”

This was her first major interview since becoming Ambassador. It took place before the ceasefire. The enormous relief she must feel now is not reflected. But the substance of what she had to say remains constant.

Jason O’Toole: What did you make of Israel closing down its embassy in Ireland?

I didn’t think about it. I have enough problems, disasters and catastrophes with my people. I have so many bigger issues, more important for the suffering of my people. This is politics for the Israelis.

Some people see it primarily as trying to damage Ireland internationally.

No. Ireland is strong. Ireland has a very good image internationally when it comes to international law and human rights – any country in this world would be proud [to have Ireland’s record]. You don’t use double standards. You always have a consistent and clear position. Ireland must be proud and confident of what they are doing.

Were you encouraged when Human Rights Watch followed Amnesty International with the direct accusation that Israel is guilty of genocide in the way it has cut off and limited water supplies?

I don’t want to say encouraging. I wanted to say that it’s reality. These organisations are highly respected. They based their fair investigation according to realities. It’s based on international law.

What is your assessment of US President Joe Biden’s role in the Israeli war on Gaza?

Many thousands of Palestinians were killed by these [US] weapons supplied to Israel – this is the image that we have about American leadership. The United States support Israel. They send the weapons to Israel. These weapons kill the Palestinians.

Are you saying that the appalling damage inflicted on Palestine by Israel, has also been inflicted on Palestine by the United States?

They are part of this by supporting Israel to that extent and encouraging Israel to breach more and more international laws to target normal people – kill, maim, and destroy. You kill innocent people when you provide weapons. You help the occupier to kill and maim and to destroy. Of course, you hold part of the responsibility.

Can you begin to explain his actions as President of the US?

It’s (current) American policy to support Israel. They don’t look at the other side. We worked closely with the Americans for many years. Even with the Oslo Accord, the Americans were there. President Clinton visited Palestine and inaugurated the airport in Gaza. In recent years, the Americans fully support the Israelis. But a few years back, they considered the Palestinians. Now, they don’t want to think about the Palestinians. If they think one minute for the Palestinians, they might think at least these are human beings who deserve to have life in their indigenous land. They would recognise the self-determination right of the Palestinians, that the indigenous have a just cause.

There is a fear that Donald Trump will be even worse…

We tried Donald Trump in his previous term as President, when he took a very advanced position against the rights of the Palestinian people. When he moved his embassy from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem, which is an occupied territory. And by this, it’s a breach of international law. When he announced the Golan Heights are part of Israel. He invested in everything that related to the benefit of Israel and [was] completely ignorant of the Palestinians. So from that perspective, we’re not optimistic. However, without recognising the rights of the Palestinians, there will be no peace in the region.

If you could speak directly to President Trump, what would you say to him?

If you, Mr. Trump, wanted to promote peace in the region, you have to realise that the indigenous people in Palestine have the right to self-determination. And in that way, your plans for peace in the region will be even, fair enough. If you wanted to help Israelis, there must be peace in that area. If you want to protect Israel from itself and from its arrogance, you have to see the other side of the story.

What about Benjamin Netanyahu?

Benjamin Netanyahu has breached international law. He kills the Palestinians and wants to colonise the West Bank. And he’s colonising in Palestine. He doesn’t want to see any Palestinian state. He’s breaching every aspect of international and humanitarian law.

Have you any relatives who died since Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7th October?

[Becomes emotional] Yes, I have. Five of my cousins were killed. The sons of my father’s brother. I knew them very well. And others from my mother’s side. So we lost many people.

My deepest condolences. It must be very difficult.

Thank you. It’s very difficult to see everyone in Palestine suffer. And everyone is targeted—innocent people, innocent children and women. This is very bad… to feel it, to see it every day on the news. And to see the failure of the international community to put pressure to stop this makes us feel very bad. Feel unsafe. Feel oppressed. And feel the disaster of what’s going on.

For many, the attack launched by Hamas on 7th October was a terrible, murderous atrocity that targeted ordinary citizens of Israel. Is that a fair summation?

The Palestinian leadership was very clear, saying that we’re against killing innocent people. And we don’t agree with taking hostages of innocent people. This is a clear statement. No one on this earth with human feelings would accept killing or doing anything against innocent people. Any human being would say, “I don’t accept this.” Everything against a human being is a disaster. No matter if you are Palestinians or Israelis.

What about the fact that people were butchered mercilessly, and women were raped?

Look, there are so many things happening at that time. And when I look at the whole picture, and when I see what was [happening], I mean, what Israel did since the 7th of October against my people: killing, the bombardment, attacking. And they didn’t spare hospitals, they didn’t spare infrastructure, they didn’t spare normal lives.

I mean, the majority of the people who were killed since the 7th of October are children and women. When I see that Gaza is not a place to live, I don’t see other pictures. The Palestinians are the victims of the victims. So, I mean, I only see the picture that slaughter my people. I only see the picture that the place that I was born and grew up in is not anymore, the place that I know.

I see people are starving. I’ve never expected one day to see that our children [would] die from malnutrition. I see hundreds of children suffer from normal diseases, they cannot find any medical centre or hospital to go to. It’s not only the injured people. The number of amputated people is more than 25,000 now . They will, for long years, suffer. So, this is what I look at. I look at the big picture of the genocide of [my] people. This is the picture that stuck in my mind.

The Hamas attack gave the extremists on the Israeli side – including Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant [now resigned], Itamar ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich – the opportunity to claim justification for the genocidal campaign that has seen over 45,000 people killed and almost the entire of Gaza turned to dust.

It’s a systematic policy of annihilation of a nation. It’s a systematic policy of displacing the Palestinians. They don’t want to see any Palestinians live in Gaza or the West Bank or East Jerusalem. This is how they see it: it’s the land of Israel and no other should be there.

At the beginning, we think that it’s a matter of rage or revenge, but now it’s beyond any rage and revenge. It’s genocidal. It’s ethnic cleansing, and their leaders and their government are never shy to announce it: “We don’t want to see Palestinians. This is the land of Israel and we want to colonise in this area.” And this is exactly what happened.

The north[ern] part of Gaza, it’s flattened. It’s the annihilation of a nation – and this is the main goal of the Israelis.

But if Hamas had not done this incredibly stupid and murderous act on 7th October, perhaps none of this would have been happening right now.

No, no. I mean, since 1948, we’ve been under systematic policy of the Israelis. They don’t want to see Palestinians in this land. And all their policies over the years [show this] – from demolishing, from displacing, from even the day-to-day policy. These give a clear picture that this systematic policy since 1948 is to empty these lands – West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem – of Palestinians.

And the 7th of October turned them from this policy that might be going slowly to the [accelerated] policy they wanted to achieve. Their goal from the beginning is not to have Palestinian people in this land. “This is,” as they said, “the land of Israel and it’s only for the Jewish people.” The savagery and the barbaric actions that started after the 7th of October were just a turning point. They became clear in this goal.

What ran through your mind when you saw the horrific news on TV on October 7?

Yes, I was shocked. And I could see the consequences over this. I was afraid. I knew that bad things will happen to the Palestinians. The reaction of Israel will be over any expectation. But it gives me hope that this might bring some change. The world will realise that Palestinian people are denied their rights. It’s not easy. But at the end of the tunnel, there will be light. The only thing that I wanted to see is, the light coming out of this dark tunnel. And this to be once and forever. I don’t want to see any Palestinian killed anymore.

 What about Israelis?

I don’t want any innocent human being to be killed. I want this region to be safe, to be secure and for Palestinian families and Israeli families to raise their children in peace and security. I want peace for all. Peace is not divided. Peace is for everyone.

Do you condemn Hamas for all those murders they committed on October 7th?

I mean, the day that I will see others condemn what Israel is doing to our people… So it’s not a matter of words. It’s a matter of position. I’m very clear in our position. It’s not a matter of using a word here and a word there. Hamas is a movement in part of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. They choose their own path. I’m not like Hamas. I’m not supporting Hamas. I disagree with their ideology.

But I cannot deny that they are part of this mosaic of the Palestinian people. Like, we have far left, we have left, we have middle people, we have right, we have far right. So they are part of the Palestinian fabric, part of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. I disagree with Hamas’ thoughts. I have different point of views, but that doesn’t mean that I say that they are not Palestinians. This is the time for the Palestinians to find a way to be united.

I get the impression you’re not a big fan of Hamas.

It’s their ideology. It’s not my ideology. Their ideology is not my ideology.

Are you saying you don’t believe in violence at all?

I believe that we, as Palestinians, have the right to struggle for our freedom. What kind of struggle? This is the time for public resistance and diplomacy and international law. This strategy – public resistance, international law and diplomacy – is the tool that works for this time.

There is a view that the Palestinian Authority is no longer relevant…

Listen, I represent the Palestinian Authority, as I said from the beginning. It’s the child of the PLO. It’s the child of the state of Palestine. We have 99 ambassadors around the world. We bring the message of the Palestinian Authority. We are the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We’re strong and we will continue to defend the rights of our people.

Tell me what you think of the land theft being perpetrated right now in the West Bank by the Israeli so-called settlers?

The far right Israeli government are supporting its settlers, they weaponise them and they protect them. They attack Palestinian lands and they steal it. This is a strategy that Israel took since this government took over a few years ago. This is systematic and this is how their ministers always announce that “this is the land of Israel and we will control it. All these settlements are part of Israel.”

They controlled over 62% of the area in the West Bank, which is occupied territories. They will continue to do that while the government supports them. They violate and breach every aspect of international law. Nobody holds them accountable. And now they are expanding even beyond the Syrian borders, beyond the Lebanese borders, and who knows what will be next.

Is there a danger, under Donald Trump’s leadership in America, that the Israeli theft of land in the West Bank and Gaza will be stepped up?

I’m afraid. Yes, I’m afraid. The United States know exactly where international law stands. And when they take any step that is not in compliance with international law, this is something that should be reviewed. And as long as they encourage Israelis to take more land, this is breaching international law. I mean, this is disaster.

How can it be resolved?

The United States have to stand up for the principles of international law. But who knows who can put pressure on them? In Northern Ireland, the Americans had a will to help and to stand up for international law. They managed to help the Irish with the Good Friday Agreement. And it was successful. There is no more violence, people live normally. And year after year, this will be even better. So when there is international will over international law, there will always be a way. So we hope that this will be part of the American policy towards Palestine and the Middle East.

What do you feel now, looking at the appalling extent of the damage inflicted on Palestine, by Israel?

Israel just flattened everything. They maimed, tortured and killed. It will take years to be revived from this agony. It’s not only the people who are killed. The people who are still alive – they are traumatised. The majority of Palestinian children need to be treated psychologically and mentally. But I tell you something, we are very strong and our life is stronger than death. And we will rebuild Gaza.

How long will it take to recover?

We need a generation. I’m a daughter of a refugee who was displaced from 1948. Yes, it will be difficult. But I’m sure that the resilience of the Palestinians will bring us back to be a strong nation, and we will bring a better generation.

What do you say about Israel’s actions against UNRWA?

Oh my God! By the way, Israel came into this world based on UN resolution and to be part of this organisation and not abide by its principles and its mandates – UNRWA is mandated by the United Nations – this is something beyond international law. You shouldn’t be part of this organisation.

To switch back a little bit, Adolf Hitler was responsible for the extermination of 6 million Jews. What do you say now, to Jewish people all over the world, about that?

I told you something. We are the victims of the victims. I think this explains everything.

But can you understand in light of what happened in the Second World War, why a decision was made to create the new state of Israel?

I mean, maybe this is not a question to put to me. Maybe you have to talk to those countries who thought of this. We, the indigenous people of Palestine, accept the compromise because that was the decision of the international community at that time to divide Palestine in 1947. Even though we Arabs were the majority, we took less land. We accepted this compromise, and we wanted to live in peace. But the Israelis, they don’t want that. They just wanted to colonise more lands after the 1948 [agreement], colonise more land after the 1967 [agreement]. And now, after the 7th of October, they just don’t want to see any Palestinians on this land.

Is Israel entitled to exist?

I mean, Israel exists. The international community helped Israel to be created and to grow and be stable in the region. I think the same right that created Israel should be given to the Palestinians.

Is it not unfortunately true that there is a serious problem of anti-Semitism in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere?

I don’t like to talk about this, because we are Semites [too]. And when you say anti-Semite, Arabs are like the Jewish people. When you criticise their behaviours that breach international law, they just use this label. It’s a misuse of this labelling. This is the way that Israel tries to blackmail the whole world. When you criticise actions that breach international law, this doesn’t mean that you’re anti-Semite. Criticising Israel, you are always accused by the Israelis as anti-Semite, but this is not right.

Is it not true that Hamas is motivated by a hatred of Israel and of Jewishness?

I want to assure you that any Palestinian, even the people in Hamas, they don’t have an issue with the Jewish people. We don’t have any problem with the Jewish people – it’s the Israeli colonisation. We’re trying to stand up for our rights.

Will it be possible to get over the mutual hatred that exists between Palestine and Israel?

Hatred is something very strong, and you cannot build a good life with hatred. You have to teach yourself to be stronger than hatred, to be stronger than any negativity, because you wouldn’t be able to build a better life with negativity and with hatred. You always build a better life with love. If there is fairness in this world, and if the Palestinians’ rights are recognised, and they at least feel that there is justice in this life, you can work around this.

Do you agree with the concept of a two-state solution?

Yes. And I still believe that this is the solution. The problem is with the Israelis. They don’t want to accept that. And if the international community put more pressure and they implement all the UN resolutions, the Palestinian state would exist and [there will be] no more war in the region.

If I were a Palestinian, I would be deeply shocked and disappointed at the failure of other Arab states to support the Palestinian cause in any meaningful way.

We’re part of this league, and they support us and support our rights internationally and locally. Because without the Arab leagues and the Arab member states supporting the just cause of the Palestinians, we couldn’t do it ourselves. And they’re always there to support us. I see that they play a good and strong role, and without them, we wouldn’t be at this stage internationally. All our resolutions at the UN, they were supporting us. Everything that goes internationally, they take it on their shoulders. They can do more, but without them we couldn’t go further.

How does the Palestinian leadership plan to engage with countries that have normalised relations with Israel, such as the UAE and Bahrain?

We’re trying to bring these countries back to the Arab Peace Initiative. There is no stability in the region without the recognition of the state of Palestine and the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination.

Is there any hope that the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement will be able to change the dynamic?

It was used [successfully] in South Africa. I don’t want to name any Arab state, but there are so many businesses that were boycotted and they closed their business in those countries. I see that so many people around the world, especially [those] who believe in the rights of the Palestinians, they take actions in boycotting Israel.

People don’t see international law implemented when it comes to Israel, so they use their own way. “I don’t want to buy the Israeli products. I don’t want to buy the settlements products.” And it seems to work. They managed to close Starbucks in certain countries. So yes, this is a way for people to say, “We reject what Israel is doing against the Palestinians.” It’s a way of expressing themselves against breaching international law.

Some people have claimed that the Palestinian leadership has not done enough to improve living conditions for the ordinary Palestinians?

This is not true. Palestinian Authority takes responsibility for the Palestinian people. Yes, the economic situation is not at its best because Israel still controls the money, by the Oslo Accord. Israel still controls every activity related to the economy or developing the economy in Palestine. VAT, everything that’s export and import – it’s all controlled by Israel. And that was done by Israel to control the economy of the Palestinians. Israel acts with piracy over the Palestinian money.

What about the allegations of corruption?

Corruption is everywhere in this world. I’m not defending the corruption. But let me tell you something: the Palestinian Authority receives so much aid from Europeans, from the Americans, from international organisations, and these are controlled and monitored. So there is no way to play in this. Everything is controlled. Like, if the Americans give €1,000, they know exactly where this €1,000 goes. When you are all the time monitored, the least of these corruptions might not happen. But when it comes to the money, there are certain rules that we abide by.

Hamas is effectively the ruling authority in Gaza. Can you and Hamas work together?

You have to find a way to work together. We’ve actually worked together. Let me remind you of the 2006 election, when Hamas won a percentage in the election and there was a unity government. And Ismail Haniyeh and President Mahmoud Abbas worked together for a period of time. And then what happened? The EU stopped all the support, the financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. And then the government collapsed. We depend on international aid, European and others. And they stopped it.

How do you see the role of women in the Palestinian movement?

Strong. We are half of the Palestinian community, and we always played a very strong role in the Palestinian struggle for freedom and in building the families. Because the mothers are the key pillar of any family. We have a strong role in building this community and this state as well.

But would you agree that Palestinian women have much less of a voice compared to Irish women?

No, I don’t see that they are. Women in Palestine are leading in so many ways. They might not have a higher position, but they are leading in many of the institutions, in the organisations, in the government buildings. If you go into any office, you will always see women there. The Palestinian woman always has her family as a main goal in her life: the family and how to protect the family and how to raise the children. But we are engaging in the political life. You will see many teachers, many doctors, many professors.

Might Ireland be able to use its experience with the Good Friday Agreement to help facilitate dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians?

I told you from the beginning, we had the Oslo Accord, and after so many years of negotiations, it seems the will is not there. So you cannot just say that without having a will. And the will must come as well from the United States. You need to have a strong voice that is close to the Americans.

This sounds like a role for Ireland.

We need a strong voice from Ireland within the United States, within the Trump administration. I know that you have strong relations with the Americans, whether on the nation level, on the government level. We need to invest in that to protect the rights of the Palestinians, because we’re afraid the Trump administration will take it in a different level of abuse, or take it in a different level of less recognition of the Palestinian rights. So I hope that the new government will continue to be vocal in supporting the Palestinian rights within the American administration.

What inspired you to become involved in diplomacy for Palestine?

I wanted to be a voice for Palestine. When I was young, I wanted to be the ambassador to the United Nations. I used to express this dream with my friends. Okay, I’m not the ambassador for the United Nations, but I’m the ambassador of Palestine in Ireland. I’m the official voice of my people. I owe Ireland all what I learned. I learned a lot about diplomacy, about politics, about engagement. If I wanted to write a book one day, Ireland will have inspired me. The Irish politics, the Irish people inspire me.

Is there any hope for Gaza now?

Yes. I mean, we cannot live without hope. Believe me, life is stronger than death and stronger than any misery in this world. I met yesterday [with] some women, some mothers. They told me: “Yes, we’re staying here in Ireland for a period of time, but our vision is to go back to Palestine and we wanted to go and build Gaza.” With all the misery they faced, I still see hope in the future of our children.

What message would you like to convey to Hot Press readers?

I hope they will read my interview in a way that shows I am a human being, and I am representing the Palestinian people. Sometimes they might agree or disagree with me, but to [please] take it with good intentions.

Ceasefire in Gaza: “We hope it will be sustainable…”

Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, gives her response as the ceasefire in Gaza begins:

“After 467 days of watching what amounts to genocide in Gaza, how could we not be relieved that there is a ceasefire?

“We hope it will be sustainable. However, we have waited so long for the international community to take a stand, that it is hard to be sure that the Israelis will honour this agreement when it seems there are no consequences for Israel no matter what war crimes they commit against the Palestinians.

“We hope for at least a break, for our people have time to heal, time to mourn, time to know who is alive or dead, injured, missing, who is buried under the rubble, what, if anything is left of their homes and their families and communities.

“So, I can say we are hoping, with all our hearts and please God this will be the end of the suffering.

“We are confident that the Irish people are hoping with us. For this we are grateful, as always.”