Leaders of Sinn Fein will not travel to the White House to participate in St. Patrick's Day festivities in Washington, D.C. next month, the left-wing political party in Ireland and Northern Ireland said Friday.

Sinn Fein leaders say they will not attend St Patrick’s Day events at the White House in protest over United States President Donald Trump’s position on Gaza.

Sinn Fein’s decision to boycott St Patrick’s Day visits to the US “doesn’t help anybody in Palestine”, Ireland’s deputy premier has said.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill says her decision not to travel to Washington DC for the annual festivities is one of principle.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton invited Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to the event, which was condemned by the British government. Sinn Féin said this is the first year since the peace agreement that its leaders won’t be traveling to Washington for St. Patrick's Day events.

Sinn Fein has defended its decision to boycott Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day amid criticism from political opponents across the island of Ireland. The party’s leadership, which normally travels to the US to mark the occasion every year,

Sinn Féin Senator Conor Murphy has said his party's boycott of St Patrick's Day celebrations in the US "wasn't a decision that was taken lightly", but was "necessary". On Friday, the party announced it will not travel to Washington DC for the annual festivities next month over US President Donald Trump's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.