Letters: Irish voices must continue to demand an end to the horror unfolding in Gaza

The images are unbearable; lifeless bodies wrapped in tarpaulin, lined up in the dust, waiting to be buried, if there is even a place left to do so.

I cannot remain silent on the terrible horror that keeps unfolding before our eyes on a daily basis.

Jonathan Fowler, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland on Monday from neighbouring Jordan, described the situation as “apocalyptic”. He said people were being forced “to eat or die” and likened the horror to a “Hunger Games” scenario.

These are not abstract warnings. They reflect the brutal, daily reality of over two million people trapped without food, water, medical aid or basic safety. This is not about politics. It is about humanity. Every civilian life matters. What is happening in Gaza is not just a crisis – it is a moral failure of the international community.

We must not become desensitised to the images of devastation, nor should we allow the cries of the suffering to go unheard.

Ireland, with its long tradition of peace-building and speaking truth to power, must continue to demand an immediate ceasefire, full humanitarian access, the protection of civilians under international law – and the immediate release of all hostages.

History is watching. We cannot, and must not, be silent.

Martin Quinn, Tipperary town

Countries supplying Israel with weapons must share blame for this nightmare

The continuing scenes we are witnessing on our TV screens from Gaza every evening are deeply distressing.

The tens of thousands of civilian casualties and the horrific injuries of those affected would make you wonder what sort of a world we are living in when we allow this to happen.

To see very young children who have lost limbs or have been burnt beyond recognition and who may also have lost parents is something we should never have to witness.

What is beyond comprehension is the ongoing support of the US and some European countries who are providing military aid to Israel to continue this atrocity. The world has truly lost its moral compass.

Tony Walsh, Finglas West, Dublin 11

Transport police needed to prevent anti-social behaviour getting worse

A surge in anti-social behaviour such as drinking, assaults and drug use on public transport has left some Irish Rail staff afraid to work. Many passengers are also fearful when taking public transport. One wonders how can we solve this ongoing issue.

I believe that we must always prioritise our safety and the safety of others by moving away from the anti-social situation and reporting it to the appropriate authorities.

There is a growing support for a dedicated transport police force in Ireland to address safety concerns on public transport. I would like to see a transport security force under the National Transport Authority, potentially with powers similar to airport police and customs officers.

Public transport staff and passengers deserve to work and travel safely.

This is why anti-social behaviour on public transport must be immediately curbed.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Parents’ words of wisdom have a habit of staying with us over the years

Enda Cullen’s letter last Tuesday regarding words of advice from his late mother, reminds me of my late father’s comments, when I told him I was going to get married, thus… “Remember lad, you’re going to tie a knot with your tongue that you won’t be able to open with your hands.”

Thankfully that knot has remained firmly, and happily, intact over the past 53 years.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

Barbie should reflect the issues facing real people, and that includes diabetes

The latest Barbie doll has diabetes, type 1, and there has been some controversy as it is a “commitment to inclusivity and representation”, but there is a need for more information about diabetes in general.

The world of Barbie is fictional, but what is she was real? There is already enough discussion of her proportions if she was full size to not revisit that.

As she was 19 years old when she was introduced to the public in 1959, so she would be now about 85 years old and probably starting to show her age. Parts would have sagged even if they are plastic. She would be feeling the passing of time with the usual aches and creaking bones and the fading memory that many have.

Barbie may be timeless, but she has to move with the times.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

RTÉ weather revamp is a reminder of years I spent with my head in the clouds

I see that RTÉ has revamped its weather forecast (Irish Independent, July 15). This reminds me of my national school days and my teacher’s exasperation at my inability to spell the word “weather” correctly. I spelled it “Wether”.

He opined that it was the worst spelling of weather he had ever seen.

Noel Kelly, Doonbeg, Co Clare

Trump has changed trade for good – and Ireland must be ready to react

Your editorial on Donald Trump’s tariff threats rightly underlines the risk to EU-US trade – but there’s a deeper issue at stake (‘Trump’s outlook may make securing trade deal impossible’, Irish Independent, July 15).

In an era when economic leadership is reduced to strongman antics, trust between trading partners is vanishing. For Ireland, whose economy is hardwired to global trade, this spells trouble far beyond tariffs.

The real danger is an inflation slump: tariffs pushing up prices while global growth stalls.

The US economy may seem robust now, but once American businesses exhaust their stockpiles and pass costs to consumers, the pain will spread – and Ireland’s pharma and tech sectors won’t be spared.

Whether or not his 30pc tariffs stick, EU-US trade will never again be conducted on a stable, rules-based footing. Ireland’s economic future lies in strengthening alliances that still value open trade – and bracing for a decade of volatility driven by ego, not economics.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Armagh