DUBLIN, Ireland: A group of Irish priests has urged the Catholic Church in Ireland to end its long-standing relationship with insurance giant Allianz, citing the company's alleged links to Israel and its role in what they described as "the appalling human rights abuse being inflicted on the Palestinian people."

The call comes after Allianz was named in a report by Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which highlighted several corporations with business connections to Israel.

In a statement, the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) drew a parallel with the growing pressure on the GAA to sever ties with Allianz and argued that the Church should follow suit. The priests noted that Allianz has, for decades, been a key commercial partner of the Catholic Church in Ireland, providing insurance coverage for a wide range of church properties, including parishes, schools, vehicles, and places of worship.

The ACP further pointed out that Allianz once even had a representative on its board linked to the Church, underlining the closeness of the relationship.

The statement was issued ahead of Archbishop Eamon Martin's "Day of Prayer and Reflection for Gaza" on August 24. The priests warned that the event would only intensify Irish Catholics' awareness of the Church's indirect connection to Israel through Allianz.

"In light of that reflection," the statement said, "and given the outrage across the Irish Catholic Church at what is happening in Gaza, the response must be immediate and decisive. Cutting all links with Allianz is the only acceptable course of action."

The ACP also encouraged dioceses and Catholic religious congregations to carry out a thorough review of their investment portfolios to ensure they were not indirectly contributing to human rights abuses in Palestine.