Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The human suffering brought about by Israel's military actions is gut wrenching. It is especially reprehensible when one considers that it is being perpetrated by what is called a democratic state. The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October was clearly abhorrent. The continued holding of hostages is intolerable and they should all be released. Israel's response has been, to say the very least, indiscriminate. It represents collective punishment of all Gazans and it is clear to us that war crimes are being committed.Nearly three quarters of the population of Gaza are relying on contaminated water sources. We are talking about a level of death and misery that is very difficult for us to comprehend. We now have a situation where, after being moved on a number of occasions, they are now in the south of Gaza, many of them vulnerable, sick or old and requiring urgent medication. Israel has begun bombing this one last remaining area of shelter and is threatening a ground invasion, but where do the people go and what does the international community do? We must remember that only about four weeks ago the International Court of Justice, of which Israel is a member, ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent the killing of Palestinians and to stop the physical destruction of Gaza. It is already clear that Israel has completely ignored this interim ruling, even though it is binding. That is a challenge when a democratic state is already in breach of the orders of the court in which it partakes.

Since the beginning of this conflict Ireland has been one of the loudest voices in Europe calling for this conflict to end - something that has not been lost on the Israeli Government. We were one of the first EU countries to call for a ceasefire and we have been pushing for this within the EU, at the UN and in bilateral contacts. I am proud of the Green Party's position on this. From the get-go, we immediately said there should be a ceasefire and that there are underlying conditions. That is not making an excuse for anyone, because all killing is barbaric and never to be condoned, but unless we address the underlying issues, this will go on and will happen again. I was also struck by the use by some commentators of the term "disproportionate" and even "entirely disproportionate" to describe the response by the Israelis. Disproportionate is such an inept word. This is no longer simply a disproportionate, indiscriminate response. It is a bombing of innocent people – men, women and children.

At the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday, 26 EU member states, with the exception of Hungary, agreed a statement urging Israel not to proceed with the offensive in Rafah and to abide by the ICJ provisional measures, which are binding. It also called for an immediate humanitarian pause, leading to a sustainable ceasefire. As part of the Government's ongoing efforts, Ireland and Spain have taken a lead, on which I commend them, in writing to the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, calling on the Commission to review whether Israel is complying with its obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement, which deals with such matters. I hope that can be expedited because it is clear for anyone to see that Israel is not complying with its obligations. It is in flagrant breach of human rights. Let us not devote so much time to those deliberations and treat them with the prioritised urgency that the indisputableprima facieevidence, which is there for all to see, merits. Article 2 of the agreement states that the relationship between the parties shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. That is totally out of line. Why is there a big delay?

I know Ireland is doing a good job. A lot of objective people have said Ireland is a leading voice in Europe. We have only to ask the Israelis to hear how much they are disappointed with us. That is what I would expect from Ireland, but we must go further and redouble our efforts if we are leaders in this respect. We cannot become complacent. We must do more.

It is worth noting that the EU is Israel's biggest trading partner. Almost one third of Israel's imports come from the EU and just over a quarter of the country's exports went to the EU. This gives the EU leverage, which member states should use to bring an end to this devastating conflict. On Thursday, 22 February, Ireland's Attorney General, Rossa Fanning SC, will travel to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which has been asked to give its opinion on the consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestine. He will deliver Ireland's legal analysis of Israel's occupation, on which Ireland has regularly voiced its deep concern, including the growing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Picking on UNRWA and pulling the plug and freezing funding to the agency has had and will have devastating consequences. Senior Green Party representatives met Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in Dublin last week to discuss the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the funding crisis faced by UNWRA. The Government used the opportunity to announce €20 million in additional funding for UNWRA to help address the urgent needs of Palestinian refugees. While the increased funding is welcome, the Green Party has been clear that Ireland and other donors cannot simply be left to pay the costs of Israel's wanton destruction of Gaza. Israel must foot the bill for this devastating destruction that is caused to Gaza's infrastructure. There has to be a day of reckoning. For example, it is estimated that by the end of January, 386 school buildings in Gaza had sustained damage. This represents more than 78% of all school buildings in Gaza and includes 25 schools that were completely damaged and 113 that were severely damaged. Many of these schools were funded by countries such as Ireland.

Green Party backbenchers have written to Ministers urging them to use the opportunity of the St. Patrick's Day trips abroad to raise the issue of Gaza with their hosts and to seek support for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the holding to account of all participants in this brutal conflict. Ireland is a very good friend of America but it is clear that America has armed Israel to the teeth. As long as that remains the position, this war will continue to be sustained by our friends in America. They must see sense. Ireland has direct access to the White House for St. Patrick's week. We should use it now like never before. I was disappointed that we have no planned ministerial visits to the Middle East on this occasion. Perhaps that could be rectified because if ever they were needed, it is now, to show solidarity. I would like to see an increase in scholarships which this State funds at both postgraduate and undergraduate level.

I thank the Minister of State for his presence today. I look forward to his response in due course.