I appreciate the Deputy raising this issue. I have articulated, like her, our deepest sympathies to the family of Kim Damti and also our horror at what happened last Saturday in respect of Hamas's attack on Israel. It can be very challenging at times in situations like this in juxtaposing one atrocity - I know Deputy Cairns is not doing this. However, we should not lose sight of the enormity of that atrocity, and we should never fail to call out. I know the Deputy is not doing that. I just want to say that because it was a moment in time when thousands of people moved over a border. We are told the number is up to 1,500 and that will all have to be verified, but 1,300 have been murdered and maybe 2,500 injured.

Equally, we should be careful of saying the "EU response". I can assure the Deputy that the response of Commissioner Várhelyi is not the European Union's response. I spoke at the Foreign Affairs Council during the week. The vast majority of member states were very clear, obviously, in unreservedly condemning the Hamas atrocity but also in making it clear that humanitarian aid and development aid to Palestinians would continue, both to the Palestinian Authority but also to Palestinians. I was very strongly of the view, and asserted the position of Ireland, that it would be a completely counterproductive and morally wrong thing to do. We must if anything now, and I have asked my officials to work with the United Nations and European partners in respect of additional aid that will be required for Gazans, make sure we can develop humanitarian corridors into Gaza in the short term to get aid.

We do not need an Old Testament approach to this but rather a New Testament approach. Ultimately, we need to move on a pathway to peace and reconciliation. It cannot be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth approach. That would be my view. We must distinguish between ordinary Palestinians going about their daily lives and those who lead Hamas and who orchestrated this attack by Hamas. Israel cannot punish innocent Gazans in indiscriminate bombings, which will result and has resulted in the deaths of children, women and innocent civilians.

I am very clear on that.

I understand Israel has a right to self-defence. It has a right to deal with Hamas because Hamas has declared war on Israel and murdered its civilians, but the entire population of Gaza cannot be collateral damage in that response to Hamas. International law must apply. President Biden said yesterday that Israel's response must uphold the rules of war. The vast majority of the Foreign Affairs Council in the European Union are clear that international law must apply. We are all the signatories to the Geneva Convention-----

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